Andover Budget Meeting - March 18, 2026

001All right. Hello everybody. It's 7:02 March 18th, 2026. So we're going to have our board of finance special work budget workshop meeting. And we will go ahead and start with the pledge of allegiance. Pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under our God, indivisible, >> liberty andice for all. >> All right. Hopefully I will see whenever Nick gets logged in. I'll let him in. But the rest of the board is here. >> Hey Rob, can I make one comment about that um about Nick not being here? I had trouble a couple weeks ago getting in and the meeting ended up starting without me. And what I've found is that if you go on to the community calendar that

002has different directions to get in versus what is in our packet. >> I think I might know why that is this week. I can't explain it last week. Um Kate had >> Kate had emailed me that she was changing the meeting a little bit. Um, apparently, uh, Jeff McGuire had talked to her about, um, that the meeting shouldn't have, um, ch a chat function, that it was inappropriate, and she agreed with that and was changing it. Uh, and it's possible that in her changing that, it changed the login info. >> Maybe she had to create a new one, but it didn't get updated on the town website. But that's a good point, and I hope nobody got tripped up by that. >> Yeah. So, it is still different because I just went through this. I

003helped uh Mr. Roy and Emily get on because they were having trouble as well. And um anyway, >> maybe he's having >> concerning because you know I would think if we had an updated thing that it would be available to the public because then we may be missing participation. a lot of people. >> There could be a lot of people that would want to be on here and can't. >> Maybe that's why Nick's not on. >> Yeah, that's why I'm saying >> I'll text him again um to see what his situation is. Um >> yeah, this is this is Elaine. I just clicked right on the calendar. I always use the calendar. I don't go through the calendar work. >> Yeah, you >> remember. Yeah, there are two different entries. So, that might be Oh,

004there's Nick. We're okay. Well, at least for him. Um, >> let's see what he says. >> Hey, Nick. Did you have any trouble getting in? >> I uh Well, admittedly, I opened last week's meeting first, so that could have been part of the trouble, so I'm probably a bad one if you're gauging if other folks are having trouble. Yeah, because we were just talking about how there's some conflicting uh login info on um the town website. There are two different places you can sometimes find our meeting information on the town website. Like you can go to the calendar, but then there's a like you can go to the board of finance specifically and I in the past sometimes we have things posted where it's in one spot but not the other and people get confused.

005So hopefully not too many people got tripped up with that tonight. I don't know that I have any capacity to fix any of that if that's the case. Um, >> the calendar gave me the right meeting and password. So, I you go to the calendar link. If anyone's struggling, you click on the calendar link. It has the right meeting and password on the town calendar on the website. >> Okay. Well, I think, you know, we'll try and tighten that up. Uh, but for now, it seems like things are working reasonably well. So, I want to move on with our meeting. We're already at 7:06. So, first things first, um, public speak. I'm going to go around. Um, so the first one I see here is, um, Alroy, Emily, Tim. >> They're here with >> You're

006muted, guys. So, >> all right. Can you hear us? >> Yes, now we can. >> Excellent. Okay. Um what we're doing is we're just trying to affirm that the budget request made from our meeting on September 15, 2025 was uh adopted and put into place and I had heard unofficially that there was some confusion as to what the budget request represented and why it was necessary etc. So, I'm here to answer questions regarding it, but basically we asked what we considered a barebones uh 1905 $1,95 budget coming up for uh 2026 2027. And we are asking primarily probably the one of the biggest items is the board clerk who has preset uh payments was 725. And the reason that was is we know it's a reval year for 2027 and we're expecting that because for

007instance the Lake District has always been considered an outlier for tax purposes. In other words, we're at the high end of everything if you're looking at a bell curve. And a lot of those people are not going to be happy with their reval. We're just we know this from experience in the past and so we're expecting a lot of people to question where their numbers are and so we had to set meeting dates and the initial meeting dates we had were significant. So, uh, moving on from that, we also knew that we needed, uh, training. Every year laws change and we have to be brought up to date. And as a board, we attend a Colombia session of local towns that train the BA members on new laws and how it impacts our town and

008ourselves. And that costs money. And additionally, uh, Emily Timmerick is been attending University of Connecticut's program on assessments and the assessment, uh, cost is all she asked for coverage on so she could go and enlighten herself on how everything works for the board. And it is a situation of she gives all her time, her materials, her research, her work. That does that's at no cost. All she was asking for is get me into the class. So that was all of that came to $800 for training. And then the last item was $380 for motor vehicle lookup. So, there's a new system in place and there's a way to look up if someone's disgruntled about their numbers and want to review what happened. The only way we can do that is to use a passcode and

009get into the system and and we've had discussions by email u with with Mr. Chaponis regarding it and we asked for the passcode but he did not want to give it to us. So basically it came down to well if if he's not going to give it to us and we do need it the the cost for that is an additional $380 to get a BAA passcode use. >> It's $38 for one lookup. So we put 10 lookups in um because people have come in front of us for that. I can just say that the the budget spreadsheet that Lisa sent around today has 1905 in it >> for BAA. That's correct. She added a line with the 380 and it was definitely something that we I think will we when we get to that

010we'll discuss. >> So, thank you for the the explanation. I'm sorry. I don't want to cut you off. If you have more to say, go ahead. But, uh it is in there right now. >> Do you have any questions? Any questions from anybody as to what the each item is and why we need it? >> The reason there was a question was because one of the lines is not existent and I think Rob that the board of finance has to approve adding a line because there is no line for the RV look. >> We have to create 115- something or other. >> Yeah. >> For that 380. That's right. >> That's on that's sort of on the list of things. And you had put that you had put a note on that. on that. >>

011Yeah. >> And the only other I mean the the clerk salary and the training uh are both increases and we can talk about that in in our board discussion but I think you've given us >> the gist of why. >> Okay. So does any since we're here I mean it's it's it's public comment so I want to move on from that but if board if you're willing to stick around a bit >> when we get to more discussion >> um people can ask questions and have you here as a resource if that's okay with everybody >> that's okay with us. Yeah. >> Okay. Well thank you for that. Um >> us >> mute us. >> Yeah. Go ahead and mute. Yep. Uh okay. So let's see. Um Elaine Ela Bukhart. >> Hi. Um, yeah, I've

012been I've been away for a couple of weeks, so I I must admit I have not looked at anything or seen any meetings or minutes or even the budget, but um, as chairman of the EDC and we're just finishing up the POC and had our public workshop uh, hearing last night for the POC. Um, I just want to make sure that there's ample money in the budget for a town planner, that that hasn't been cut or tampered with at all. I know the request was there for a town planner because we can't move forward with anything and anything on the POC without a planner and a planner who will help with economic development. Um, so I I I mean you guys have the budget so you can look to see to make sure that there

013is money for planner >> under the building department town planner wages. Is that or is that that's a different is that a different one or because I'm just doing a fine search >> that would be for a planner a town planner. >> Okay, that's in there. Um >> Okay, good. Because we haven't had a planner for years and and have suffered greatly for it. >> I mean that that's interesting because I mean it looks like we're spending money on it. No. Um >> well because we right now that that planner is John Gazcowski and he has been working on the POC. >> The PCD is done. >> Yeah. >> So I just want to make sure that moving forward we still have a town planner to work on other than the POC. >> Well, I

014mean I'm seeing reflected on the spreadsheet that Lisa sent me that there's there's a line item for that and it's been increased. Um, so you know, we'll get to it, but it's there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Just putting my in my two cents. It's like making sure. >> Okay. Here it is. >> No surprises. Okay. >> Uh, okay. So, there's a phone number here. I don't know your name. Sorry. Um, 7425475. >> Hi, this is Leanne Hutchinson. I'm here to listen. Thank you. >> Okay, thanks. Very good. Joanne, >> hi there. I'm just here to listen to I just had two quick points. Um hoping that you all have the info that you were looking for. I'll be interested to hear your conversations tonight with those capital fund balances and stuff. So that that would be

015helpful to hear that you have that. And then just kind of to to state the obvious like when I look or listen to all of you and you'll make your decisions. Um obviously it's going to be a tough year with the big increase. You know the bottom line there. So, if ever there was a year, I know I've been pulling for this every meeting I come to to kind of reduce maybe a couple of the capital fund lines where you can because this year there's so much turnover. Hopefully, they get a new town administrator in place. They get, you know, up to speed. There's, you know, the new treasurer who's doing great, as I keep saying, and then the new assistant assessor. There's just so many new people that just kind of the status quo

016will be a good thing for next year. So, I think this could be a year where you trim some of those because I don't think there's going to be any new projects. You know, just my two cents. Thank you. Thanks, Joanne. Appreciate that. Uh, let's see. What am I missing? Well, okay. Leanne Hutchinson, I thought Wait, didn't we just Have I missed anyone? going through the participants here. >> Is Le on Wait a minute. Is Lean on the phone and on >> Yeah, I mean I'm seeing That's what I thought. I'm a little confused because it looks like there's a phone number and then there's a person. >> Yes, you did call on me. Sometimes this happens. It's happened at other meetings where my name and my phone number appear separately. >> That's weird. Okay.

017I just don't want to miss anybody. Uh so I don't I think that's it. I appreciate it. Thanks. Um, I think we're good to kind of move on. Um, I I hope everybody's had a chance to at least glance at what Lisa has sent us in the last couple days. Um, we've gotten a lot of a lot of things. We've gotten the preliminary audit info from last year's budget. We've got new updated budget spreadsheets, both the, you know, town budget spreadsheet and then the calculation of uh taxes and mill rate and such. One of the big changes in there, not big changes, it's a small change, but it's still a change. One of the things that's developed over the last couple days is RAM in reaction to the increase of health care costs. They upped

018the levy request. So our budget has worsened a little bit because of that 6% extra. We are, you know, they were to recap for anybody who doesn't know this, the schools, the town, they're all in a consortium uh for healthcare uh premium and it was projected at 15% and unfortunately at the last meeting it came out that it's now 21%. So both the school all the schools everybody you know not just our school all of he schools all of you know there's a ton of people in this consortium it went up another 6% you know basically if you think about it their their increase goes up another third so um RAM I guess their superintendent sent around a new levy sheet college sends it around and and it does increase their levy request we had

019been at plus1 $120 I think and $10 and it's now$126922. So it's not a massive increase but it is an increase. So that's already kind of put us backwards a little bit from where we were last meeting. >> Is uh >> Go ahead. >> Question. Is there levy there new levy request in this updated workbook that we have? Yeah, at least >> right now. >> I'm sure 4 million 4 million262454. I want to make sure I have the right one. >> Yeah, I wrote it down. 4 million262454. >> Okay, thanks. >> So, we're good there. Um, it's in there. It I at the end of the day, I think it it increases it the budget by 0.1%. The the taxation number on on the tax >> spreadsheet. Um, I mean, if you think about it,

020look, every $100,000 is 1%. Right? Because we had a $10 million taxation last year and just a hair over. Um, so, you know, if you get $10,000, well, that's 0.1. So, it wasn't quite 10,000 actually. It's it's it's not quite that. It's it's more like 7,000. But there you have it. Um, so that's one big change. Uh Lisa also tried to get us some more information regarding our capital at my request. I've been asking about the capital funds and Lisa, thank you so much for the work you've been doing. I know it's been hard. Uh we have a chart that Lisa provided. It's PDF document um that you could kind of put I guess together with the audit info. >> I I think that's the intent here. >> Yeah, there's a the first column. Yeah,

021the first column is what the audit gave us for 2425 >> and then what what you voted on for budget last year is the next column >> and then outlays that were spent and there if you go two columns over it says description of outlays. The amount that that in that column that says outlays is explained in description so you know what that outlay was for. And then I I balanced that with the current QuickBooks balance in the special funds and everything and tried to match it. There are some that are off and I'm still gonna have to research, but that final shaded column to the far right gives you a much better idea as to where you at with capital right now. I did not get to Bunker Hill, but I really wouldn't count

022on that because there's just been so much activity out of it. Um, >> no, I I understand that. And also I would say I think we all know there's another I always forget the name of it. There's another bridge project that is essentially the same type of project as Bunker Hill that we're transitioning to. So, you know, as much as I'd like to say, oh my goodness, we have hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bunker Hill. I know we have that project going and I'm reluctant >> to make that tonight. >> Same with Bridge and Culver, too. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, Bridget Culver is one of those things where we're saving and saving and saving like as much as we can. Uh because we know that fund, if my understanding is correct, the idea behind

023that fund is to fund projects that aren't going to be 100% reimburseable like the way that Bunker Hill ultimately was. So, we have projects coming down the pike where we might have to pay 50% of them. If it's a million- dollar project, that eats the whole fund. So, that's one of those things. um to the board. I guess um I want there are a couple things I want I had on my kind of my agenda tonight, if you will. I think we should try to quickly go through the town budget again, not as maybe we went through it in detail once and we had much more preliminary numbers. Then the new spreadsheet obviously incorporates the changes that the board of selectment have made at their last meeting and updates like the RAM number and things

024like that. Um we can maybe go through that again and then I do think we need to talk about capital and that that's those are the two things that I wanted to really press on tonight. We only have one more meeting. And the other thing I wanted to add on my list of things to talk about is depending on how far we get tonight about how much progress we make and how we're feeling about things. I think at the end we might want to consider the possibility just consider the possibility of trying to cram in one more meeting. you know, because I don't know about the rest of you, but I feel like we're awfully close now to that April 1st date where we're going to go before the town and present a budget. Well,

025sorry, P budget hearing, but still, yeah, that's when we're supposed to have our ducks in a row. And we have two meeting. We have tonight and next week. So, >> do you think it's appropriate to try and um get that meeting together with the board of selectmen? because it seems like >> they were kind of in the proc right. Yeah, because they were kind of in the process of working on this, but they didn't really have a full document to work on either. So, it might be better >> like to add them to at least part of the meeting. What >> at least invite as many of them that could come uh right for sure. I I was thinking about Tuesday of next week, but let's let's let's just kick that around. Uh everybody think

026about it and >> tell what you think. But yes, I do think it's a good idea. Mhm. >> Can I just mention I I mean I didn't know before, but there are two items and I haven't had a chance to talk to Jeff, but there are two items that I would like to talk about for the treasurer's office. Two important items when you get there if you want. You don't have to do it now, but >> Okay. Um well >> well also do we maybe want to let um Alan and Emily finish their presentation and then then they can stay or go if depending on what they want to do since >> here's what I think we should do is maybe I'll share my screen. will go to their the assessment appeals um portion of

027the budget and let the board ask whatever questions they may have because the budget right now that's there pending a motion on our part to create that extra line item reflects what they're asking for as I understand it 1905. So do we want to do that guys? Does that make sense? We'll go I'll share my screen and we'll do that. All right, let me see >> web background. Um, hold on one moment. I am such a smart person. There we go. Share screen. Share. Ah, yeah. Yeah. Why is it so small? All right. Hang on a minute. >> They're cute. >> Can people see this? >> Yes. >> All right. Let me get down to their portion. This is where it's down here. Recycling. There is Board of Appeals, right? >> Yep. >> So, here

028we are. Uh these these are what we have to talk about. And as you can see, Lisa has put in this $380 figure that they explained earlier in public comment uh is for that DMV lookup. and the rest is about, you know, additional training costs and a little bit of a bump in his salary um for the clerk. So, do any members of the board have questions since we have our folks on here who can answer them? >> Do you know um what your ex do you have any expectations next year, Alan and Emily? I you know, you say we're up for a reval. Do you have any idea what that's going to look like for the taxpayers? Because we're looking right now at this total budget and how the mill rate is going to

029work based on this year's numbers. We also have I'm thinking need to be cognizant of the fact that a reval could look very different after after that than what we're looking at right now. Is that right? So the expectation here is having talked to a couple realators recently, people are putting houses up for 380 and they're getting 450. So the number different people are over bidding and they think that that's going to kind of like get the tax base moving higher more importantly in the Lake District because this is high-end property even though we don't think that way but so we think that the numbers are really going to jump high and that's going to drive people to get a question out of us you know say hey why did you do this you know

030not that we did it but we get to review it and uh we're very stringent in following the law. Um we have to we can only accept a certain formula, right? You got to be Connecticut certified independent appraisal service that's local to the area and and it has to have comparable comps in the area. And if people hit all those bases in a presentation and can prove that it's less than what Mr. Chaponus has done, you know, we have to take a hard look at it, you know. So, I think the the initial base is going to jump huge, but how many people are going to question it maybe huge. That's what we're expecting, but I think you're going to see a a big jump. >> I have a question now. It's Luis Goodwin. Um,

031if a person puts the house on the market, let's say 500,000 and it actually goes for like 700,000, are the taxes based, this might be a student, >> are the taxes based on 500,000 because that's what it's, you know, >> it's the it's based on what the the assessor says it is, right? >> So, I'll give you for an example. My brother lived two houses over from me and he had 600,000 into the house and he asked he was selling it. He asked for eight. But a woman's daughter lives on the lake and this they were extremely extremely wealthy. They paid my brother 985,000 which was crazy money higher. Right? That doesn't mean that their taxes will be on that 985. That was an emotional purchase. Right. >> Right. Right. >> So it's it's the

032same with other properties. >> So it doesn't it doesn't matter what you actually end up selling the house for. It's whatever it's valued at. >> And it's going to be valued higher >> and it's 70% of that that we take. >> Right. Right. Right. And it's going to be higher now because because all these inflated prices >> the market the market is just jumping with crazy numbers right now. >> Right. And and if you look at the sales in the area, they're astronomical. D a lot of a lot of houses are double what the assessments were five years ago. >> Yeah. >> Wow. So what you'd see then if that comes to fruition obviously and you had a flat budget what you would see is this mill rate decline which doesn't really mean you know

033it's not a tax cut it's right but it can it'll affect different people differently my house built in 01 I've been here since 07 it's aging you know my house assessment might go up but not to the level of a house that's just been you know newly constructed or whatever so it's a Well, there's a lot of moving parts, right? >> Yeah, there's a lot of moving parts and >> and it is up to the assessor to assess the >> Exactly. >> Right. >> All we do is we >> every five >> fair. >> It's done every five years, but the assessor moved the uh revout one year one year out. >> He was overloaded. >> Yeah. >> That's why I was looking back and I thought, we did it in 2021. Isn't this a

034reval year? And thank you. That explains it >> because he moved it a year. I think right >> he works in Colchester too. Colchesterers is 2026, >> right? >> I'm sure that's a much bigger job. It's a much bigger town. >> We didn't want to do two towns with three valves. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Well, all right guys, from the Oh, go ahead, Luis. >> Yeah. Um, I read somewhere that if the reval was delayed for a year or something like that, that they can I'm not sure where I read this, but they can actually use the current amount that we're paying now as the new reval for the next one if they don't end up doing the reval. Is that something you've heard of before? >> Yes, I have. Yes. Is that something

035that can be applied to Andover by using the old >> well to the assessor, >> right? I was going to say the assessor is going to try to hit every house, right? And make an appropriate adjustment, >> right? >> However, will he be able to do them all in time? We don't know. So maybe he hits certain areas more than others. I I don't know. I I don't know what his criteria is. And you know, >> do you know what? Do you know when it needs to be done by >> the re when it's done by? What do you mean? >> Yes. >> 2027. >> When does the reval start and when should it be completed? >> It's starts October 1st and it is for the grand list for January of the 28th. >> Okay.

036>> Has to be done. >> Okay. being three months, one of which is filled with holidays >> and that's, you know, >> so he uses the sales for the prior year to do the um assessments >> and the sales are are high right now. >> They're crazy high. >> And town a little town like Andover, too, I mean, comps can be difficult. I remember a time many years ago where I I had to have my house appraised because I was refying or something and I got wildly different numbers from two appraisers. It was very bizarre. Uh because they were at the time there wasn't a lot of activity. Wasn't a lot of purchase and sale going on. So they didn't finding a comp was ridicul. It was really very hard. Now, at least if there's

037a lot going on in town, maybe you have a little bit easier time with comps. >> And some of the issues that present themselves to us anyway is people think, "Oh, my brother-in-law is a realer and he can do an appraisal. >> He knows what it's worth." >> Yeah, exactly. We hear this all the time, you know, or I just refinanced my house and my bank gave me an appraisal. And we go, that's not an independent appraisal. That's a bank appraisal, >> right? So we try to educate as much as we can the public to understand the definitive evidence at our hearing at our board hearing for your review. Right? We know what we can look at and what we can't look at in real estate appraisals, bank appraisals, any of that we cannot look

038at. >> People have to know that. >> Got to be independent. So I mean for my board um again if there's further questions, cool. If not, I I think our core thing that we need to deal with here is that line item issue. Uh, personally, you tell me you need 380 bucks for this DMV lookup thing, I'm inclined to to support a motion to to add that line in. Uh, you know, I don't want you >> because prior prior to the new law change, we had books that we could use, >> Kelly Blue books and the like. Well, um, yeah, P JD Power and NADA, uh, books that we could look things up, >> but now this, >> yeah, >> now they use JD Power and it's an online system >> and it's a state

039set, >> right? And and we asked the uh assessor for the password and he wouldn't give it to us. >> I mean, if he would give it to us, you wouldn't have to spend the money, >> Right. And we're not talking a lot of money. I make that we add the line. >> We're rolling 10 cars, right? >> Lisa, can I ask a question while we're talking about this line? >> Um, do you decide what the new number for the line is or I'm sorry, I can't remember. you know, and it's diff um difficult in QuickBooks because there's the columns that you see. Um I used to deal with like I think nine numbers, but if there's already those nine three last of those nine numbers are used, you have to search and find something.

040Even though it doesn't have the same first two numbers, you have to make sure that third number isn't used. So, I'm going to have to figure out what the format is with you guys. So, I'll have to search for a number. Should we make just the motion generically then? >> To be determined. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, Liz, is that your motion? Um, add a line under 115-2 to be determined. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Whatever. Yeah. 25. Yeah. Whatever is needed to add that $380. >> Can you name that line without having the number? Like, just name it. >> It says DMV lookup access right now. I'm >> Oh, I see. Yeah. Okay. That's good enough. >> Do you guys think that's okay? I think it's fine. >> Yep, that looks good

041to me. >> I'll second that. >> Okay, Louise seconds. >> Very good. Any further discussion on that? All right. Uh, call for a vote then? Everybody, all in favor? >> I >> Let's go around. This Kate's been yelling at me. Liz is a yes. Bill's a yes. Nick, you're a yes. >> Yep. Kim, you're a yes. >> Yes. >> Heather, you're a yes. I am also a yes. That's unanimous. Motion passes. >> Uh, wait a minute. Louise. >> Louise, sorry. >> Louise is second. >> Louise, you're you're a yes as well. Yes. Okay. >> Very good. Sorry about that. When I'm sharing my screen, I have a very um it's a little Anyway, excuses. Uh so, I'm gonna I'm gonna stop sharing for a second. Uh because oh my god, that was really hard to

042see all you guys. while I was doing that. >> So, I think hopefully guys, uh, Board of Assessment Appeals, I hopefully that sorts you out for now. Uh, >> yeah, we're good. >> Okay, we're good. >> I appreciate you joining us. If you want to hang around, fine. If you want to bop off now, uh, I think we're good. >> Thanks for the education. >> Thank you for the info. >> That was appreciated. >> Appreciate it. Okay, so that's checked off. Right. Where were we? Um, okay. So, this is a Yes, sorry. I've got my own little spreadsheet that I'm doing. Okay. So, how do people feel about going back again? And I can share my screen again. We can go through it uh line by line, but specifically trying to focus on the the

043changes that have been made by, you know, at the last board selectment meeting because there were several that were made. Do people think that's a anybody got objection to that approach going through there? >> I mean, >> go ahead, Heather. >> I was just gonna say that sounds good. >> Okay, Bill. >> Well, I was gonna say we have to go through line by line one more time, don't we? I mean, anyways. >> Yeah. >> What? >> Yeah. I I'm talking about emphasis, but yes, I would I would go line by line and say if anybody's got anything to bring up, now is the time. >> Agreed. >> We get through as many of those lines as possible tonight and then I guess add us another meeting like you had suggested. It's probably going to

044be necessary. >> I I I expect it maybe. Yeah. Um and it may be valuable if we can get with some of the Boris selectman. Yeah. Uh but let's see how far we get, I guess. you know, but I I I I that's why I brought it up is I think we probably do need that extra meeting. So, >> are you gonna share your screen again, Rob? >> Yeah, I'm gonna do that. Give me a second. >> It helps me because I'm out of my house and I can only see one screen tonight. >> Fair enough. All right, hang on a second. Let me close Let me see if I can Son of a gun. >> Thank you. Can people see that? >> Yes. Okay. So, I started at the expenditures for the town. This

045is obviously up here is revenue and stuff. I was going to say, let's go through the expenditures. So, we start we would start here and go down and get through as much as this as we can. The changes, the things that are in pink, I believe, are the changes um or the choices that were made at the last selectman meeting. >> Yeah. Yep. >> Yeah. So, for instance, this here's an example. They consolidated these lines, right? Or not consolidated, sorry, they increased this line. They left this line. My bad. >> Um, >> yeah, the administrative assistant um went like a regular salary instead of a stipen, >> right? >> And they wanted to leave in the project manager because they were thinking this spring they might need a project manager. >> Well, I remember that's

046something that for years Eric had talked about needing. >> Well, I think it's because of the bridge project, isn't it, Lisa? They didn't really say, but I think so. Yes, because there's so much going on with those. Oops. Sorry. >> Yeah, they got the long hill road. >> Yeah, there's something. Yeah. Yep. >> Um, so obviously the big jump is here. >> So, can you explain that better? I don't quite understand why the big jump. What is it? >> Because one of the selectmen felt that it should be a a full-time position because I believe right now Kate is just getting um a stipen and it's a very small number of hours. that she can dedicate to it in the current budget. So, this would add a person to be there um 30 hours, 20

047hours, 20 hours. >> Yeah, I think 20 hours is what they wanted. >> Um so that somebody can be here because right now um the tax collector shares the position and like the during slow times the tax collector isn't here a day a week and during busy times it's hard for her to answer what needs to be done for the town administrator. So, it's like she's playing two roles. So, I don't know how a new town administrator would feel about that, but >> what do you mean? How like I I would think they would welcome that, right? >> Right. That's what I'm thinking. Yes. Because they're not going to know that they're going to have to figure out the town together and and you know, town administrator goes to meetings and plans grants and things

048like that. It's it's like for where I was in as a first selectman, there's meetings all the time. So if there's nobody there at the office, >> I feel like Eric combine that, right? Didn't Eric wish he didn't really need an admin assistant at one point and he moved her? Do you guys remember what he did there? >> Well, there is no office for her is she just has a desk in the tax collector's room office. And so some of the times when she's slow on taxes, she'll do some town administrator stuff. But when it's tax season for four different times, it's hard for her to go back to that desk when she's collecting taxes. I I mean, I'm just saying how it is now. I'm not saying it's not my preference for anything like

049that. I'm just saying I think what was discussed. >> Yeah. >> Um Lisa, just quick question. Um is it 20 hours or is it 19? Like isn't there a threshold for benefits? 19. >> Um it's Yeah, 19 is part-time and 20 is full-time, I believe. Yep. >> And they went with >> 20. I think they >> went with 20. >> I think so. >> They went with 20. Oh, >> so there would be benefits. Okay. >> Cuz well, if you took not 30,000 for I'm just trying to see what that would be an hour. >> Okay. Because I was >> getting I was getting some information about their meeting suggesting it might have been 19 that they chose for specifically because of the benefits issue. So we may want to tighten that up. Um be

050that as it may, I mean obviously this line is just a salary, but um I mean conceptually I am fine with that. Conceptually I'm just wondering if we as a board are trying to find cuts. Well, if we cut this, then obviously it interferes with the board of selectman's vision for what this position would be. I would be reluctant to go there, but it is it's $25,000 increase roughly. Uh other thoughts from the board? What What do you guys think about this? >> I I'm supportive of them hiring somebody even if it's for 19 hours. Mhm. >> Um because I just know that there's only so much Kate can do and I think there's a lot of things that she can't get to. >> Um I notice a lot of problems with calendaring back and

051forth between the senior center and the town that um and with the hours that she has to be able to stay on top of that stuff, it's just impossible. So I think it's a good thing that they're adding somebody. Um the question would be do we say yeah we fully support this but maybe keep it at 19. Um the other question is um Lynn do you think will we get um an added tab at the bottom so that we can see the line level data for the the taxes and the insurance and all that stuff. >> I have not been able to do that Liz. I I just I I can't get there. It took me three days to do that capital sheet >> and I'm only supposed to be here six hours. Maybe I

052can get to it, but I just I I still am trying to do two other things that must that are priorities. So, um >> Okay. All right. >> I know you guys had it last year, but I didn't get that until we're already in the process. >> Okay. >> So, process. >> Just to be clear, I mean, I I now am kicking myself because um last what was it a few days ago, Lisa? I Yeah. I and over the weekend, I think I went back through all my old emails and I I fished out one of our older budget spreadsheets from a past year and I sent it to her and I it honestly, Lisa, I'm sorry it did not dawn on me that you had not seen that before. >> That's all right. I

053I just And I I wouldn't mind doing it. >> I'm a little flabbergasted, honestly, that you hadn't been provided that already. I I I but I could have provided you that too. >> I was going to say I got something like that but it wasn't it didn't have like your MURF in there like those tabs that you have in that one was >> Yeah, that one had like all those extra tabs. I think that's what you know. >> Yeah, I don't think I saw that before. Yeah. >> So, I had >> partially on me. I I should have I I could have done that earlier. I wish I had. Sorry. >> Um >> All right. Go on. Heather, Heather, >> I had I just had a question just um um so if Kay is normally

054gets a stipen so is that still included somewhere in here or and so this is somebody else right >> this be a new position I think as long >> so is Kate stipened in here also >> yes it was 5150 I believe last year so this would just this 30,000 would be over that so that would be included in that. I am looking at my notes from that meeting. It from what I wrote down I have a question mark 20 hours times 25 an hour equals 26,000. So um so if I'm doing that right times >> so that would then trigger benefits. So somewhere in the benefits line we should expect to see a small change right? >> Oh >> if I'm understanding correctly. >> But if this is Wait a sec. Let's see. >>

055Yeah, >> but if the 5150 is in there, then they're only getting paid they're getting paid the 24850. The >> No, they're taking they're zeroing out this >> adding this to get to that. >> Right. So the stipen would go away. The stipen goes away. >> Yeah. So that would be 26,000 at for 20 hours at $25 an hour would be 26,000. So I think they put in 30. I don't know. Maybe that's they I don't know if they couldn't get anybody at 25 or if they wanted to change the hours and maybe they were thinking some benefits in that cuz it $25 an hour only comes to 26. So maybe they were thinking I don't know >> 4k for benefits you think >> maybe I don't I don't I honestly can't remember. I wrote

056these notes down, but um >> okay, >> that figure so this $30,000 figure, would that >> include the benefit figure or is that that would be on a separate line? >> I don't I think right. >> Yeah, it would be an employee benefits, but I would like you say you want to talk to the selectman. I would just check and see what because like I said, that calculation they were talking comes to 26. So, I don't know if they just rounded it to 30 because they didn't know how many hours the person would have or what the salary would be, but that's kind of a close calculation to what they might be able to get. >> So, can we maybe um suggest to them that they keep this at 19 hours? I mean, it's a

057new position, so it would be somebody starting out new. >> If it turned out that they needed more hours and they wanted to grow the position, they could certainly add it. Um, that would that would tackle the whole benefit problem. >> If if I understand correctly, 25 an hour. If you do 19 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, that's 24700. 24,700 would be the number. >> Okay. >> Lisa, you >> is that I'm sorry. Did you say 20 hours or 19? >> Well, 19. >> 19* 25 time 52. >> 52. >> That's what I did. 247. Yep. >> Yep. 24700. So that would be the 19hour no benefits option, I guess. >> So they're obviously tacking on. And I think we either we can make a change or we can if again if we're

058going to try to pull together a meeting with them, that would be something to highlight. Here, let me do that. Uh, you know, and and talk about again. 19. Let me put another God, my notes are getting a little crazy. 19 hours at 25 hour 52 weeks equals 24700. Great. >> So, >> okay. >> I think that's something to to continue talking about, but I don't know if I want to make Would you guys agree that maybe right at this moment it's not the time to decide to cut it? Like we we have another >> I want to select them. >> I I think so, too. That's where I would be at. >> Yeah. >> Yep. We cut this to like $25,000 and tell them um we're >> I think it's an option. I think

059we should cut it to 25,000 like Louis said too. I mean, I'm totally supportive it from the standpoint that we're going to have a new admin come in. They're going to need this position, right? With a >> Right. And then Yeah. $25,000 and that's 19 hours and and then see how that goes till next year. >> Yep. So you guys want to do that? Wait, do you want to do that now? Are you proposing to do that now or? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. And then we can still discuss it with them and >> Yeah. Ponder a change. >> Do we have to do this as a motion or just >> Yeah, we would move. Someone would move to cut that line from 30,000 down to 25. >> Liz, is that your motion or

060>> Sure. I'll make a motion to cut that line to $25,000 at 19 hours a week. I'll second it. >> Okay. Do we have further board discussion on that motion? >> All right, everybody. Hang on a second. I'm going to minimize this because I need to see you for the vote. Um, apologies. All right. If there's no further discussion, we'll take a vote. Uh, Liz, >> yes. >> Okay. Bill, >> yes. >> Heather, >> yes. >> Kim, >> yes. Nick, >> yes. >> Louise, you're muted, but I saw you say yes, and I'm a yes. That's 70. Uh, motion passes unanimously. We'll move that. We will um go ahead and drop this to 25,000 for now. Okay. And we will, but I'm going to leave this highlighted on my chart. Anyway, this is my own

061I saved this to my drive. Um, I'm gonna we'll come back to this to the extent that we can get the select board and ourselves together next week. Um, we should I do think we should talk it through with them. But cool. All right. Moving onward. Um, we already kind of talked about the project managers. Does anybody have any further discussion they want to make here? Any proposal here? I I think we probably need it. I think we need it because of the number of projects that we have and the number of grants that we have that uh and Long Hill Bridge. It's I think that's why he wanted that position. >> Long Hill, that's the one. Okay. Yeah. I mean, I'm fine with it. Anybody else got anything? >> I agree with >> Yeah.

062My only comment and I my only comment about this is that I know Eric always seemed to budget $15,000 for that line and was very insistent on getting that 15,000 in that line and he never ended up using it. So I was kind of curious about the discussion from the POC. What does that mean the POCD is gone or what? I didn't really understand what she said. Um what her point was I know nothing about that line of business. Well, um I'm not against keeping it in. I'm just saying >> we've never filled the position. >> That's right. >> Right. He never did. Right. And >> Right. And I mean, this is one of the reasons why you'll see in past audits, you know, we'll come in under budget. Um because in the end, we

063don't get this done >> and you know, the budget's in there. So, I mean, like I I was looking at our our last audit, the one that's about to be completed, the one that's still preliminary, and you know, we we had a we have a surplus again. So, this is part of the reason why I'd perfectly fine. I I'd like to see us if if we fund this, I'd really like to see us actually hire somebody to do the work, though. >> Well, again, I think Eric ended up taking that all on himself, right? But >> yeah, he did. >> If we get a new admin, they're gonna be pretty much under the weather, so they might need that extra help. I don't know. Yeah. >> So because they didn't it did wasn't used last

064year. >> Is that 15,000 still sitting there? >> So we won't know that fully until the next audit >> which is just I think going to start up. We every audit that we complete remember is a year back right. So the audit that we're about to complete gets us to June 30th of last year 2025. That one shows a town budget surplus some of which a small bit of which which I wrote them down somewhere was AES and then there was a bunch that was the town. So I expect what you you know when I say this is part of the reason I mean it's more complicated than that because some things will be overexpended and some things will be underexpended and they all net out into a certain way. I suspect that when we

065get our 2025 2026 audit done, you will in fact see as Lisa's shown here that we didn't expend that line item and therefore dependent on everything else in the budget, you know, yes, that would be a plus 15. >> Okay? >> You know, a $15,000 underexpend at least. >> Although, I think they were thinking of possibly doing using it this spring when some projects are working on. I think I think that's what they said. >> Okay. And if that happens, then you won't see that, right? The audit will pick that up and and in the end it won't be >> right. >> Okay. >> Um Okay. Let's see. This stuff I don't have any comment here. This kind of is what it is. It's either flat or zeroed out. Um which takes us to Treasurer

066Financial. You guys may be aware the board of selectman voted to increase the treasur salary line. Um I have to expect I I haven't had a chance to go through that meeting, but I have to expect this is in recognition of the hours uh that our new treasurer is putting in versus the hours that she was hired to put in. But your mileage may vary on that. But that's sort of my assumption. The question would be sorry I shouldn't have minimized that. Um, you know, originally I believe the hour the the hours were supposed to be supposed to be 6 hours a week, right? >> 25 hours a month. >> 25 a month. Okay. So, that's probably more precise. >> That was what um at the interview was. I put in several hundred so far

067and it's been two months. >> Hey, I've talked to you on Sundays. I get it. >> Yes. Um, >> I'm here now. >> Sure thing. Uh, that's not my, you know, I'm just trying to explain to the board in case there are questions like this this $10,000 increase, which as you can see is a a big percentage from a a fairly small small base, but at the same time for not a lot of hours. But the reality I I was suspecting the idea here is that this number right now at least until some things are sorted out. This number is a fiction. >> And I'll be I if I can say something I'll be perfectly honest that if if I start going back to 25 hours, I won't have an issue if you go back

068to 30. I just I can't keep doing this. I can't. Yeah. >> I'd be a fool. I don't think any of you would do what I'm doing for this amount of money. Agreed. >> Agreed. >> And the only other thing that I really want to say is think about your past financial department >> and what you've gone through. >> And I just don't know if enough time is spent in it. So, it's just maybe because I'm only going to be here a couple years. I have grandkids. Um uh but I would think that somebody whoever is going to take this over is going to be here more than 25 hours. I mean, Jeff is probably like, you know, if he's listening to this, he's probably saying, "Oh, stop." >> But I don't know. I just

069want you to think about what you've gone through in your financials. So, >> yeah. >> If you're going to want somebody in here with a bachelor's degree or something, I don't know. I just >> experience. >> Yeah. >> Experience. 10 years print municipal experience. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, I again, Lisa, this is awkward because you're on the call, but I don't have a problem paying for talent and hard work, and I know you're putting that in. So, I just wanted to highlight it is one of the changes. It's 10,000 bucks. Uh, and I wanted to talk through that with the board. It's, you know, no shade being thrown at all. Uh, and again, I can vouch >> that again, I have literally had phone conversations with you on Sunday. Uh, so you know, I

070know you're putting in the work. I know that you were tossed into a difficult situation. So in the future, can we hope to change this? Maybe, but for now, for this year, for for the year starting July 1, really, but um I don't know what we're going to do about because we're still in the last budget. We may have to do something there. But for this, I don't I personally don't have a problem with this. Does anyone in the board have questions or comments or concerns about this line item? >> I support it. If you think about the amount of hours just getting through this season with a meeting a week, that blows away that six hours, right? >> Just being here right now every week. >> And I think that's the hard part and

071why is because we don't have a town administrator. Next year you you you should have a tower administrator, right? You know, >> Eric always Eric always walks us through this. So, >> a lot of this boils down to that. >> Yep. >> We need that administrator. We don't have it. >> Yep. >> That's where we are. >> So, I'm going to make a motion to allow that 40,000. >> I We don't need to I don't think we need a motion to allow good. We can just accept it. >> Just leave it alone like it is. >> Just leave it alone. I I think only if we're going to make a change from what the Border Sman did, I think, do we need a motion, Lee? >> Okay. >> If I'm wrong about that, somebody educate

072me. But I I think that's the way we've always done it. Yeah. >> And then we have um a tiny change here to assisted treasurer stipend. Uh is this is just a 3%. They just they kind of went through and did 3% raises as we expected them to. >> Well, they discussed it too. They discussed either keeping it or not keeping it and they they kind of tabled it. So they left it like that. But there was discussion around it. So >> Oh, so it wasn't it's not a >> ask them about it. Maybe put a note in there that like double check with them. Yeah, >> sure. And um here I'm trying to do this so I have >> Yep. >> Uh okay. So, all right. Pickbooks updates. Now, oh boy, here's a can

073of worms I don't necessarily want to open, Lisa, but um >> that was what I needed to talk to you about. whether >> QuickBooks expires in um the support for QuickBooks expires in May. >> And again, I go back to the finance history that you've experienced and I would hate for something to go wrong and we couldn't get supported and something didn't work or something. But it's a couple thousand dollar. Now, what's left in here so far this year, I was thinking was some cyber um coverage, but we might be able to cover that in um town town office town office building where it says software and maintenance. >> Um but then I saw that I think we pay them1250 a month. Is that what I saw? >> Can I can I ask this question

074just here? your your expenditure line is zero. Is that a real number or have you not just gotten >> Yeah. No, I just checked. It is a real number, but I don't know why my laptop went in there. So, I don't know where that was put. I would have to talk with Chris and see where that went because that was 1,400. So, unless it went into computer tech support on the next line, but let me just look at that because if that's 12, I don't know how much we'll have by the end of the month in software. Yeah. And I I just I raised it only because Okay. So, we we're projected $3,000 for a QuickBook update. That's in May. >> And is that a yearly? Is that a 12-month contract? >> No. No, it's

075not even a contract. It's you just buy an update and it lasts you several years. >> Oh, until >> Are you talking about I I You're talking about QuickBooks, correct? >> Yes. >> Yeah. It's just >> I'm looking at your memo line saying QuickBooks updates. Yeah. So, this is this is just >> Okay. It depends on how many times QuickBooks themselves do an update basically. >> Exactly. And it's at 23 right now when we're going to be, you know, 27. So it's it's things are I don't know. >> If it's in May, that's in this budget, not next year's budget. Well, I mean, if that's what we want to use it for, let me just look at this it line is >> I I'm only saying if you're going to need the money in May,

076>> us putting $3,000 in the 2627 budget doesn't actually get that done. >> What we actually need to do is probably approve use of contingency for that. >> Okay. That 15,000 is going to be eaten up in town office building because it's 1250 a month and we're if I forecast it's gone. Wait, what number? >> In town office building. There's 15,000. I was thinking we could use that, but it says computer tech support in town office building 4213. >> 4213. >> Sorry, I'm way that's way below where I was. >> Yeah. >> Software maintenance >> this year. >> Computer tech support >> this year. >> Yeah. >> Oh, there software. There is a list. There is some software down there. Not much, but >> Yeah. Yeah. Software maintenance there. So there $7,500. How does that

077equate to >> Well, no, that's $469 a month. So you gota you got this is only March. >> So is March paid yet? No. So you have March, April, May, June. You got four more months of 469. 469* 4 >> on your number for expenditure is only through January 31st. So >> um it's going to take even even the software you're only going to have maybe a thousand left in there because that's $469 a month for software maintenance. >> And the thing to consider >> like 1300, 1300 left >> where >> in the software maintenance for a town or for a treasure? Uh right there where that town >> um >> they got an office building software maintenance. >> Right now there's 28.95 left but we still have four more months of 469 a month

078to pay and that comes to $1876. So you have to minus that out of the 28. So you really only have a th000 left. >> Thousand. Yeah. >> Yep. >> Um >> the problem is there's a lot of protection that we have to purchase um for cyber and for you know fraud and everything else. There's um crowd strike we use and then another one the other day. >> I'm going to go back up by the way because we were >> go back up. >> That's why we have to put all that software maintenance in there. >> Okay. I mean I don't again I'm not trying to nickel and dime this. What I'm saying is when you're telling me there's an expense that's coming within this current fiscal year, you know, putting money into next year's

079budget doesn't really help you unless it is fires in May. It would I'm assuming it would last till June, which is June 30th. So, >> Oh, you just wouldn't do the update till July 1st. Okay. Right. >> I see what you're saying. Okay. Again, I I guess I I apologize. I'm thinking along the lines of a contract, but that's not what this is. Okay. >> No. Yeah. >> All right. Well, I don't I mean, I don't have a huge problem with that. I mean, and we can talk about QuickBooks further once we get through this budget season, but um >> Yep. >> It's got to get done. >> Yeah. I just wanted to bring it up. So, >> and it's not a huge budget request, you know, the fact that it's not been spent. This

080is the issue. >> Maybe there will be as far as contract software if we can fit I don't know this this >> because here's the thing. If we budgeted last year 2829 and we haven't used any of it, it's going to cost 3,000 to do. I don't know. I mean, shouldn't we be able to access I mean, this budget money is in there, right? Yeah. >> No, that 3,000 the 3,000 I'm asking for was to make sure we had QuickBooks updates. I'm not sure because I wasn't here for the 28 29 last year what thought was on that. I would think the entire town office building would take care of the extra cyber stuff, but I could be mistaken. I'm not sure. I'd have to check with uh Stephen or um zones that we that

081does all our work for us. the South Windsor. >> Is there a list somewhere of all the softwares? All the all the >> He's working on an inventory list for us, but I I don't know if he's working on on the software list, but that's a good question. >> I mean, because we should be able to say, "This is all the stuff we have. These are all the programs they need, and this is how much each one costs." Boom. That's the number. >> I can check with them. I know we're on QuickBooks now and QuickBooks has its benefits, but did they where I know there's different versions of QuickBooks and different other accounting softwares. Did they do we ever do an analysis on if QuickBooks is the best solution or any of those? >> There's

082extensive history to this. Um, a few years ago, I believe the town switched >> briefly to a different system. one I think the schools still use it. >> Yes, I think so. I think >> Edmonds or something like that. >> Edmonds. They use Edmonds. Yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> We backed off it and switch went back to Quickbooks for reasons I I can't opine. It was certainly not my decision and I don't have any expertise to bring to bear on this but I know there were many other options and I would trust our treasurer especially if our treasurer decides to stay with us um to give us a frank opinion as to what we should be using and how QuickBooks is or is not working for the finance department. If I remember right, at

083Preston public schools I used not sunrise, it was sun something, but boy that was expensive. That was like $10,000 and that was over 10 years ago that I was there. Um whereas QuickBooks is a couple thousand to update and QuickBooks is very user friendly. Um I can pull finance reports from it. I do not like it for payroll. That was something else I wanted to talk to you about. um because it's very easy manipulated. Um um which is good and bad, but as far as doing the finances, when you've got a small town like this, this is what I've always used. I haven't really had a problem with it. >> So, it's really the payroll side that you were trying to tell me about. >> Correct. Correct. There's a lot of liability with payroll with

084taxes. It's nobody I don't think anybody unless they've done payroll understands the time it takes. Um, we're we need to do background searches. This this I got a quote today. Um, and it's 6,000. We spend 2,000 on the clocks. We wouldn't need the clocks anymore. Um, it would be online or in phones that you do the punch. I'm very used to it from where I was. Um, and the reports are just, you know, there's so many reports and they're very easy to pull. So, I mean that that would be an addition of like 4,000 because you're already a little under 4,000. >> All right. >> Well, from the standpoint of >> Oh, wait a minute. You know what? It would be half that because the first six months is is no charge. First six months

085is free, >> right? But then going forward, >> what's the name of that? What's the name of that? That's a >> Oh, no. That's real. That's ADP. Yeah. >> ADP. >> Yep. Because it's 6,000. But we're spending 2,000 already for the clocks. And then it's it's it's half of that. It's only 3,000. So it's really only another thousand for this year. It's really only another thousand when you think about it. >> Okay. So, >> well, I think we can talk about that if we get through the budget cycle, but um >> y >> the standpoint of this question, the the contract software maintenance line for now in this budget, >> um you tell me that that's needed. I accept that. Uh does do any of the other members of the board have further comments, questions,

086concerns concerning this line item? >> Should we move on? >> We should move. No, Nick, what do you have? What do you have? >> My only thought was if we caught like with Lisa here and everyone if we wanted to, I think now would be the time to like explore anything different that we wanted to do. >> Yeah. I mean, I guess the question is this is we have to remember this is the budget that starts July 126. If we put something, if you need that, if you're telling me that payroll software would cost X, do we want to consider sticking that in? And I hate to add something to this budget when we're already trying to we're dealing with this this this increase, but it's if you're telling me it's a,000 bucks, >> right,

087>> and it would make life easier, I mean, maybe that's something we should take up now. Yeah, it's a good point, Nick. Um, >> or maybe put a note in the note section, something to talk address with. >> Yeah, that's exactly what I was saying. >> What was the system name again, Lisa? Can you give me that name? >> ADP work. >> Question mark plus what? A,000. >> I think a thousand more than we're paying now. Yes, we're paying 2,000 now for the time clocks and we wouldn't need the time clocks anymore. So that >> potentially reduce liability and risk too because we're outsourcing it. >> Yes. >> So it would ultimately save us. >> Yes. >> If something went wrong, it's on them. >> Yes. >> The W TWS would be done by them.

088The taxes are paid by them. There's no guessing involved. >> I had prime pay where we were and actually they were poor and they just went to ADP. The Salem school loves ADP. Um, I I just think they're uh what do I want to say? A standard of of payroll that has really done people like them that they don't have issues with them. >> Every company I've ever worked for use ADP. It's >> Yeah. >> is the standard. >> Yep. >> Question, Lisa. Um, so with ADP, if there are some people that like the clocking in clocking out system, is there a way to do that electronically that ADP recommend? >> You know, it's funny you should ask. I just went through it in Salem and everybody, some departments in particular said, I don't know

089if I can do that. They started using their phones and they absolutely loved it. They didn't have to clock in anymore. We had the clocks as a backup. We really, they didn't use them. they started to like because they and you can go in with that and I know a lot of companies have it. You can go in and change your tax form by yourself. That's less time that that this office is going to spend making all these changes for everybody. They can go in and do it themselves. They can look at their W2. They can look at their paycheck. Um right now >> in terms of now >> we get notified when our check is ready to be approved. I've gotten it every week I've been here and I can't open it. So, I

090there's no way I can approve my paycheck. And that's what you're supposed to do is like you're supposed to get like a pre-approval thing. That's part of the the process. >> That would Sorry. >> Oh, sorry. Sorry, Nick. >> No, I didn't mean to stop on you. Go ahead. I was >> That's great. So my my question is so if you have an hourly because I don't know how the town office works but if you have an hourly employee and the expectation is that they clock in does ADP work in a way that somebody could like on their computer I'm in for the day like does does it work that way or they just it's like honor system >> no those have to be approved by their supervisor so they won't get paid they can

091go into that online system and what happens is that supervisor in ADP gets attached to like their five employees. So, they will look and say, "Oh, well, that person wasn't here that day. That's not going through." And question that employee. >> So, there's, you know, there's that capabil like at the library, um the public works. We used to have the fire um department, those supervisors, um would go in and I wouldn't even get those time cards electronically. They're not really cards, but those time sheets electronically until that supervisor approved their hours. Oh, great. >> So, and then it comes through and it was really pretty cool. I thought it was a really good system. I just didn't like the problem with Prime Pay was is they didn't give you a dedicated rep and ADT does.

092And so, what happens is Prime Pay would get used to like we used to have comp hours you could earn instead of overtime, but they all nobody could figure it out. So, every time you get a new rep on the phone and they had no idea and you'd have to teach them all over again how it worked. When we had a dedicated rep, they were great, but then they stopped doing that. I don't know if they were short staffed or they just changed their policy, but it was it was a bad decision. >> Seems like a nice update. Anyway, >> yeah, >> I like that. Nick, did you want to say anything? >> Yeah, I was just the only thought I had is I think it transfers I don't know if you're running payroll right

093now, Lisa, but it transfers some of the risk and problems I think onto a third party, too. Yes. So I think like if some kind of major error was done with W TWS or something that party now is responsible. So ultimately if >> correct >> and and this is not at all intended for if Lisa leaves us and someone comes over and makes a bad W2 mistake, we're not ultimately responsible. If someone fails to pay taxes for a particular employee properly, we're not that's all an ADP. If >> your liability is definitely lessened. Yeah. >> So, we could ultimately save money on that. >> If it if it's just a if it's just $1,000 difference, is there do you think there's a a setup charge to start? >> That includes I think with this four

094uh the six months free, they wave the setup charge. It's like a $400 setup charge and um they said they wave it for a new plus customer. I just got the quote today. So, >> and that's only the first year though I assume right after that. >> Yeah. But there won't be another setup charge in the first year. It would next year. So, next year it would be the 6,000 which you're already paying 2,000. So, it would be 4,000 more next year instead. >> Yeah, >> fair enough. I mean, here we are talking about a thousand bucks. So, let's um I I've put the note in. We should try to talk to them about it, but let's move on. If anybody disagrees, let me know. But, you know, we got to get try to get

095through this. Um, >> so let's go to the town clerk stuff. Again, you're gonna see things, you know, 3% raises thrown in here. Um, I assume that board of selectman I shouldn't say I assume that. Um, again, I had I had a chance to watch their meeting, but hopefully this was discussed and approved. What is all right? Adjust found. Yeah, there was a Yeah, there was an agreement or something when this person was hired. I don't know if it was anou um memorandum and understanding or something. Um and the adjustment was found um by the board of selectman after the fact. So that should be increased to this year there. >> So that's that's contractually obligated, >> right? Yep. >> Okay. um land records. Uh let's see. How did it actual spend? >> That's weird.

096>> It's gone up. >> Yeah. >> I don't want to spend a lot of time on it because it's not a huge amount of money, but I look at it and I'm like, >> I like it. >> Do you recall why that has to go up? No, I would have to check with Roberta. >> I know Roberta, I could ask I could reach out and ask her. >> Oh, okay. >> Um, so that's one thing I could do, guys, as you know, as a liazison, I suppose. I I could I could text Robera and ask her what what's going on there. Um, but >> because that's not um there was that worry. Oh, no. It's down below. We >> Well, it's not Roberta anymore is the thing, right? Like, oh, no, it's Clerk. It's Cler.

097Sorry. I keep thinking about assessor. >> My bad. So I can ask her that and but the other the flip side of it is is if we get this meeting together and we can manage to get the board select then you know we can talk to them about it too but I can try to reach out. Um but that just jumped out at me just based on this sort of the the the spending data we do have doesn't jump out at me as like oh my gosh we have to increase this. There's got to be a reason. I doubt that that was done for nothing, but I there's nothing in your memo, so that's why I think it's fair to highlight come back to >> Yeah. And it's interesting because they're budgeting like our budget

098current budget is 12,000 and we've only expended like about four grand this year. I wonder why >> why the jump, but we can talk about it >> again. You put a note to talk to Roberta and we'll come back to it. >> Yeah, I'm gonna do that. Sorry, I had some people in the waiting room. I didn't realize while I had my screen share and somebody texted me to say I can't get in so sorry. Um okay so um ask >> I'm just look looking to see so far 4,000 has been spent just so you know >> right 3902 is what you have in there. >> Okay even if you >> seven months of spending I don't know how cyclical that is. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but it doesn't look like it's

099about to go over. >> No, even if you double it, you're only at $8,000, >> right? No, some of these things can be deceiving that way. It's why I bring it up is that >> But yeah, um >> what Okay, sorry. Um apologies. people texting me about trying to get in the meeting. Uh, let me just double check my participant list. Yes. Okay. Test is it. Very good. Um, okay. Land records. Where were we? This is all zeroed. I don't know if anybody has anything to say there. I'm not in of the opinion. This here. Okay. So, this is the one where I believe it was um Carol who brought up there was a grant for this. >> Is this something Dora Selecman talked through and sorted out and agreed to that this is the

100right number? >> Historic dock restoration line. >> Yeah. Well, I guess well Carol's one of the selectmen. She used to be there and she insisted that we only listed as a thousand. So, >> okay. I mean, I don't have a problem with that. I just want to make sure. >> She said, well, what she cl what she clarified was because I always say I'm afraid to do that with a grant because we never know if we're going to get it. But what she clarified was, and I asked her, is if we don't get that grant, the work doesn't get done. So, therefore, the expense is not there. So, there might be expenses of 6,500 and it that's only going to be there if there's a $5,500 grant. Otherwise, >> we don't have the grant. We

101just don't do it. >> Exactly. Okay. Fair enough. All right, where are we? Tax collector. Okay. Um, once again, we see our 3% raise. By the way, I mean, I don't know if anybody, we haven't spent much time in this. Uh, I'll just state my position for the record. I don't feel that 3% raises are in any way egregious, but if anybody wants to talk about these, there there are clearly all throughout this document kind of flat 3% raises for everybody. >> Can I add something though for K? >> Yeah, go ahead, Lisa. I she hasn't had the fourth class because Jeff said something about he was going to check on that but I talked to Kate and we should raise that up probably to 45804 that we went and looked in >> what? Sorry,

102what class? >> Um tax collector. >> Yeah, >> the classes for um to get certified as a tax collector. She's had three. She has one more to go. >> And they're only they're only given certain times of the year. So she won't be able to take it till fall. So would it be under conference seminar or or are you talking about salary increase? >> No, I'm talking about salary because it's in her contract, the union contract that she goes up and she gets that fourth. >> If she gets it, she gets to what? 45 what? >> 804. 45 804. >> Okay, let me just put this >> and I put that amount. She would get more than that, but it's not going to happen until after July 1st. So I did it for the number

103of months that she told me it would be done for. >> Okay. Thank you for raising that. I would have had no idea. >> Yeah. >> So, it's about 800, you know, not quite 800 bucks. Okay. >> Contract software maintenance. I mean, not a huge amount of money. Kind of a big jump. I don't know what the software is. Um, does anybody have commentary on well any of this, frankly? Let's just talk about tax collector in general. Anybody have anybody on the board besides me? have thoughts. >> I do know the program she uses fails a lot. >> Uh I could tell you I can verify for you in fact that this weekend I was trying to get some information from the town hall. I called in there. I was talking to Roberta and I

104was asking I was tax collector there. Oh, sorry. It wasn't this weekend. It was Monday. I said, "Uh, I I want to come down. I want to ask a couple questions." And she said, "Well, don't bother right now. Our system's down." >> Yep. So, I don't know if that's part of that 18, >> you know, but then they answered my questions anyway, which was great. Um, but did the the long story short, I noticed that. I did notice that. So, wait, is this going to help with that or is this just >> I don't know. Or it could be something that she's mandated to get. I don't know. >> Okay. >> We need to get more info on that for sure. I feel like that would probably be pretty niche, so I wouldn't be surprised

105if that's a requirement, but it definitely is worth looking at. Okay. Uh, assessor, should we move on to assessor? >> Yes. >> All right. Hang on a second. I'm just going to delete this. I'm sorry. All right. Assessor. Boom. Where are we? Okay. So, again, you guys see here. Well, let's not mess the spreadsheet up. We see our 3% increases here. If anybody has issues with that, let's talk about them. And once again, we see software maintenance is again, I mean, this isn't this isn't breaking the budget, but you know, again, it's there. So, we have another we have a lot of software maintenance in this. I don't know >> that software maintenance that huge line down there. I know that's something they have to have because they we spent a lot of money all

106the time in this in the um assessor's department on software. So that's probably again it's another probably upgrade that they have to take. >> I I believe it. I'm willing to believe it. Uh and it's not a lot. >> I mean look at the total. Yeah. What we spend 25,000 for a year. It's it's the gem system or something I think they call it. >> Gems and both the tax collector and the assessor had a part of it in Salem. I'm not sure if that's how it works here. >> Okay. I mean, again, I'm I'm not I'm not saying that this this doesn't tally to all that much, but it's just like we keep seeing it in every every department software. >> All right. Um, can I just say something about the assess? And I'll

107say this quick. It may be a very unpopular thing to say, but I'm going to throw it out there and I and I think it's worth ask worth asking the question to the board of selectmen. I understand that um the town of Windom does what do you call it business share? What's the word when you shared services with other towns? >> Regionalization, shared services, something like that. >> And and they are all set up to do assessor services and I wonder what it would cost our town if we considered something like that. So, I mean, if our budget for this line item is $100,000 and it would we could save half or less. I mean, is it worth something to talk about? That's all. >> You know what? Actually, maybe I'll put it here. Let

108me put it there. Let me undo this. Give me a second, guys. >> Let's put it here. >> I think that's a good question. >> As the whole thing, let's put this. Okay. Rob's computer. Come on. function. Thank you. >> I heard that they're set up to do it and they do it for other towns. So, it's not even something that would be difficult for them to set up because they have all the everything they need. So, um I mean I know we just hired a new assistant a new assistant assessor, so that obviously would not be a happy story, but I just thought it's worth bringing. >> Well, I mean the question Yeah. And the question becomes, if we're spending 105 and what's the what what would be the cost if we could regionalize?

109>> Yeah. >> And what would the savings be? If the answer is like 75, well, that's an interesting answer, isn't it? >> Uh, I have no idea, though. So, it's a it's a question to ask, I guess. I don't know who could best answer it, but uh I've got it in here as our one of our things to ask for. By the way, I should save this document so it does not die. Okay. Uh are we good with sorry are we good with this section for now? >> Okay. Let's move on to registars. I mean personally this is um again 3% 3%. What do we have here? Conference seminar further travel districts to conference. Okay. It's 100 bucks. Um, mileage is I assume similar situation although interesting. I don't know if that's a plane fair

110and this is driving. I don't know. Um, cost increased office supplies again it's $100. Um, I'm not inclined to quibble but if people have questions and concerns now is the time or we'll move on to elections. >> Yeah. Question. So the actuals was 231 in 2024 and right now we're showing zero. >> Oh, right. That's a really good point right here. >> And can we go back to the previous one that we did too to look at that as well because I think I saw something >> the previous sorry the previous section assessor. >> Yeah, there's zero >> like here. >> Yeah, conference seminars are zero. >> Conference mileage office supplies. >> Yeah. Yeah. So why are we going to 8 825 when we've only spent 158 and the previous year we only spent57? Maybe

111we could >> which one's which you want and I'll see if they've spent more. Where are you? >> Assessor go back. Okay. >> Office supplies under assessor to >> we have spent $158. >> Yeah. So the question becomes if we spent 521 547 >> Yeah. >> and we're underspent so far. I mean obviously this can be in bits and bunches and I don't I don't look at this and say okay it's seven months in doing math but I don't know about that. Yeah they're right. I don't know about that increase. I mean what if we did 600 >> maybe 550 or 550. >> Yeah. Sure. Sure. >> Sure. Uh >> sure. >> I mean for $50 I'm not going to fight you. >> Right. I don't know. Neither am I. >> There's a lot of

112off there's there's a lot of office supply lines because every little place has their own >> Yeah. >> office supplies almost. I kind of wish we could like >> centralize the office supply consolidate in one area, >> but then we wouldn't have the detail. That's that's the flip side to it, Liz. >> Oh, I say to spread it out. But so go Lisa, >> we had a closet. We had the administrator to the first selectman order the supplies. You put your order in with her. We had accounts with Amazon and Staples. She would stock the closet with paper pads, pencils, whatever. And you know, you'd use them. The only thing that was built separately was like the tax office sent different used perforated paper to send out the bills. But everybody else came pretty much

113used the closet, envelopes, file folders. It was all in the closet. >> So, I don't know. >> I can tell you one thing. It took me a month to get a box of pencils. Okay. >> Well, can we can we look at the line above that too, Rob? I mean, it went >> zero zero 35 >> 35. >> Oh, yeah. >> I mean, does it really need to go up that much? >> Dude, let me look at last year though because if they have classes, a lot of these guys have classes in the spring and that's when they in their conference, >> right? It's just the zero. What's going on there? um just seems like a big round number just >> yeah could probably cut it in half or >> can we vote on any

114of these or we just going to ask >> well I'm highlight I'm highlighting them and and my intention guys is the next meeting we have whatever that is and we have to talk about that is we either hopefully get together try to get some sort of joint meeting going and we can talk through these things and make decisions or we just make decisions I'm a little hesitant right this moment to especially for things that are this small but if you guys want to make motions hey that's what we're here to do we want to make >> that's what we're here to do we we should be doing that it's it's not the board of selectman's job to do that it's ours there's >> no it is absolutely ours I just feel like on some of

115these I I feel >> small it's >> I'm not sure and everything but yeah I there's nothing wrong with saying I make, you know, I move to cut these couple line items a little bit. Um >> um as far as mileage, there wasn't any last year either. I would think that would be the assessor putting mileage in for when he goes out to look at properties, >> but we have a reason he gets paid for that. >> Uh I would think any assesstor would get paid to use his car to go around and look at stuff. I know in Salem we did. He got paid. >> So the real question here is, >> you know, I'm going to put mileage in, but he didn't. He doesn't look like he did last year. >> I got

116an idea. I got an idea. You guys, I'm sorry. Um, this is the wrong I'm sharing my screen. This is a bad idea to do that. I was going to go to the town website, look up the 2021 budget, and look at what we spent or budgeted at least uh in that line item. That might be something to look at. Um, real quick, if anybody has time while I'm doing this, if you go to the town website, you look at the past budgets, there's um, we could look at that line item for I believe it was 2020 2022 that was the assessment year. I mean, it was 2020 21 we did the assessment. I just always get confused because the budget years, what they're called, the fiscal year is the ending year. So, 2021. So,

117I think that's the budget to look at. And of course, we don't have that much look back, right, on this. >> That's what I was going to say. I think it only goes back to 21. I'm going to go back and look. >> I think we have 2020. >> 2020. >> We It goes back to 20 the year 2020 to 2021. And >> right, and I think that might have been the reval year. So that might be the one to look at >> cuz when I went back and I did a look back cuz I was trying to for my own edification and then I ended up sending out to the board because I was like that's interesting. I was trying to go back and look at, you know, our tax levels and everything over

118the last five years. And the first budget that's listed in there that's that's And by the way, I should just mention this when I It has nothing to do with anybody here on the call tonight, but um there's a couple of those uploads that are not great and one's completely missing >> um in terms of the budgets. If you look at them, you know, some of them are the right document, some of them are not the same format. And then there's one that's completely missing. It just gives you an error. So, um, something to tighten up at some point, but that's that's not >> Is that on the website? >> Yeah, on the website. >> Yeah, I noticed that when I was applying for the job. I'm like, what do you what I can't find

119this >> Yeah. But >> I can tell I can tell you that in the year 2020 to 2021, that fiscal year, we budgeted 500,000. Uh, and in 2019 2020 >> 500,000 for what? >> Oh, for for mileage for the uh >> 500,000 or 500 bucks. >> $500. $500. I'm sorry. >> Thank you. >> He said if anybody wanted to try and look that up and that's what I'm getting. >> I apologize. He was just He said 500,000. >> We got peeled over. >> It's all good. Thank you so much for looking that up. We did budget 500. >> We budgeted in the year 2020, 2021, we budgeted 500. Now, I'm going to go into the next year and see if I can find the actuals from that year. >> Thank you. >> We I don't

120know if we always had the actuals in there, but um >> 500 then makes sense for a revalure. >> I don't understand this. It doesn't I'm back to June of 22 and I don't see any mileage at all. I see that one for $35. It's not making sense. I maybe John doesn't put in for mileage or maybe the Well, Robera might know. Rob asked Roberta. She was the assistant for years. Did she go to any seminars or anything? Probably not. But I don't know. I guess John was not put in for mileage, I guess, because I'm not seeing anywhere. So, we budgeted it, but we never spent it. >> Yeah, that's how it looks. I don't I'm looking in this in expenditure line, and I'm going back to 21. >> I mean, if if he's

121entitled to it, though. Uh, that's that's tricky. Okay. >> Yeah, >> we could ask Roberta. How about if we look at the next one? Office supplies. We want to do anything there. >> You guys want to make a Excuse me. a motion to cut that or >> I'd make a motion to cut the 550. >> Anybody second that? >> I'll second it. >> Sorry. Was that you, Liz? >> Yep. >> Okay. Sorry, I'm going on voice because I got the up. Okay, so Bill moves to cut office supply uh yeah, office supplies down to 550. Liz seconds. Anybody got commentary on that discussion? All right, I'm going to go ahead and call for a vote. I'm just going to call it out by name. Um, Liz, >> yes. >> Okay. Louise, >> yes. >> Very

122good. Kim, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. >> Heather, >> yes. >> Nick, >> yes. >> And myself, I'm also a yes. So, we will go ahead and do that. I'm going to leave it highlighted. Um, so cut from what is it? 8:25 to 550. Motion passes. Okay. Sorry, I got to I'm I'm also making notes as I speak here because now I've committed to asking Robera two things. You know, I'm like, "Yeah, I can do that." And then so it's mileage or assessor. And apologies, I'm going to scroll back up because I Oh, there it is. Land records. Okay. >> All right. I'll come back to that. Very good. All right. So, we're through. >> I have a question on it. Is this saying the assistant assessor makes more than the assessor? >> He's

123only here. >> That was my question. >> He's only here one day a week. >> The the assessor is only here one day a week. >> Yes. And the assistant's here more. Okay. >> Yes. >> There's a big hour difference, I imagine, between these two positions. >> Right. And he's the he's the like licensed professional that kind of oversees the operation kind of thing. Right. So that's why he gets paid what he gets paid, >> right? Mhm. >> for only working one day a week. >> Yeah. That was my my question too, Heather. The first time I started going through this, I'm like, what? >> How is that possible? Yeah. >> I was like, lucky assistant. He only makes makes more money, >> but you know, working three times the hours or something. >> All

124right. Um, are we good in assessor? >> Okay. anybody else. So, we cut that. >> We cut this one. >> Yeah, >> we got a question mark. I'm gonna I'm going to reach out to Roberto about. And then this one >> is subscription. >> Oh, sorry. 0% increase. Looks like it's bounced around a bit. I don't know. I don't This one doesn't look egregious to me, but because of the bouncing around. >> Yeah, >> I don't know much about it, though. >> Yeah, another question mark maybe. >> Sure. Sure. >> Why doesn't she log into these meetings? We could She could make our life so much easier. >> Be so happy with the advice. All right. Uh what is it? Book subscriptions. Okay. Yeah, this is why we meet with all the departments in the

125very beginning and do a bunch of calendar with departments that way you wouldn't have to go back and forth like this. >> You have it all done. >> I mean the reality is in the past in the past when we had experienced town administrator we could ask these questions and either get the answer tonight >> or next >> and he knew everything. >> Yep. And it just is this is where we are today. We're in now now. All right. So, are we good? Uh, can we go to the register? Is everybody good? >> Yep. >> Okay. Um, >> hold on. >> Oh, sorry. >> Just Yeah, just uh >> apologies. >> Okay, so training I know training is going to be an increased cost. Yeah, we're Oh, I'm sorry. We're on registars, right? >> Oh,

126if we're moving to register. Sorry. That's what I thought. Okay, great. We're we're into registars now. We're here. >> We're here now. Okay, so we got the salary increase again. that 3% 3% disc here confidence seminar further travel distance to comp um it's 100 bucks but um I'm just is this M because mileage and this are separate >> um >> so I don't know >> I don't know why we do it that way but okay like again it's $200 >> Yep. Yeah, I remember them talking about this on the board of selection meeting and um with us being in a an election year, they did bump up this line these lines specifically. So, >> I mean, I know we're asking more in general >> for elections people, right? So, I'm okay with it. I I

127just >> um Yep. >> Once again, we have an office supply line. Yep. >> We've got low expenditures and apparently a zero >> for office supplies, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Let me check. >> And then we've got a I mean I again it's $100. I begrudge it, but if we're not >> I I believe that was because that they're expecting uh to have to have more ballots or something. Oh, >> because I think that's the reason for that line. If I >> They spent 58 $58 and they bought badges and something from Amazon. So to the two together equal $58. >> You mean you mean this zero number is 58? >> Yes. Yep. >> And part of it it says is RO badge recognition. Okay. >> And I think that I think that the

128rest of that I think was that they were planning for ballots or something. >> Additional ballots. Okay. >> I think or you could you could put a question mark there. Is that for ballots? And then if it turns out it's not, then we can say, well, you're going to have to be more careful with your paper click. >> No more post-it notes for you. >> Okay. Um, membership 220 I sorry 200 200 220 300 I don't know what this means. I'm assuming it's a >> membership in a some sort of >> organization and it the dues are what they are. >> Yeah, I think so. >> Okay. Um, right. Elections. So here we have a 10% increase for pole workers. >> Um >> oh so I might have been wrong with my salary comment from

129the previous that that's probably in the elections department. >> So maybe that office >> Yeah. So those are register. So maybe that that office supply would be a good area to consider cutting only because what I had mentioned about additional ballots and stuff there. There it is. It's on uh the supply line down below >> this year. Yeah. >> Yeah. Additional balance. >> Additional balance. >> Yeah. >> Correct. So, >> so let's go back up and address that one. >> Yep. Fair enough. >> I mean, again, it's $100. But if I look at this from our experience, and obviously we we don't have a further look back, but 166 231 on track for something in this range. >> You know, I make a motion to cut to $300. Second that. >> Okay. So, bill motions

130to cut uh125-610 from $600 to $300. >> Yes. >> All right. Second. Who was the second? >> Kim. Thank you. >> Kim seconds. Any discussion? >> Okay. Let's call for a vote. I'm going to go around again. Liz. Yes, >> Kim. >> Yes, >> Heather. >> Yes, >> Louise. >> Yes, >> Bill. >> Yes, >> Nick. >> Yes, >> myself. I will also be a yes. That's unanimous. So, we cut this down to 300. I'm going to leave it in the notes and highlighted to talk about. If we get that meeting together, we can talk about it with them. Um, so we know what we caught, right? So, but that really Yeah, that makes sense to me. Okay, guys, good job. >> Back to elections. Yeah, by the way, where are we in the spreadsheet?

131Good lord. All right, it's coming up on 9. All right. We may do this thing where we get I don't know about you all, but I think if we get down to here, maybe we may and it's 9:00, we may want to discuss whether we want to continue or try to schedule another meeting. Elections election salary increase of 10%. More pole workers. I know that in the last few years based on early voting and all this other stuff that we put putting more on our elections folks. Um that said, what's um this well this year I guess this year is not a great year to >> look at the fall. >> Yeah. So I mean my gut reaction to this is that makes sense. Uh but it is you know it's a jump. >> Yeah.

132We we budgeted 22 this year. And is this right, Lisa? >> What? >> This $4,000, not even 39 though. She It looks like new tabulator maintenance. There must be a high cost of maintaining the new. Are there new tabulators? >> And then there's a new contract maybe for the software licensing or they added software licensing. And again, that could be something new for the elections. I don't know. >> We're an election salary. Oh here. >> So what I see here now this has got to be there's no cyclical like there's no um month by month it says will election or not election. Right. >> Right. >> So this we spent about $4,000 this year. Um >> and it's jumped for the last two years. wouldn't be except for our I guess referendum for budget. Assuming

133that that's part of this, you're done, right? >> No. No. The referendum would be before it, but in November there's going to be >> That's what I was midterm election. >> In November, >> midterm election November. >> No, no. What I what I'm saying um Sorry, you're correct. It's the past. This is where I get mixed up, too. Sorry, you're right. This is the next budget. This is the midterms. But what what I mean is sorry with this number. >> Sorry guys, let me just see. >> Oh, I see what you're saying. Yeah, that would have been the last. >> This is last year. This is this year. >> That would have been the local, >> right? >> Yeah, >> that would have been our local. >> What I'm saying is if that's what we

134really spent, aren't we kind of done? >> Well, no. We got the May election. We got a referendum election. >> Referendum. >> Yeah. >> So, okay, fair enough. But if you look back to the two years before that, it's still a huge increase. >> Yeah, it is. >> 2022 25. >> You didn't you didn't open up to two districts or something, did you? So that you'd have to No, no, no, no, no, no. >> What did I just We need more of a I think a line level breakdown for this for this. Maybe we should ask for that. And don't we also we combined our two elections to have them on the same day for RAM and for the town, right? >> Yes, we did. >> We did. >> So, it doesn't seem right that

135we're up to 24,000 here when we were like 9,000 12,05. I don't know. It just seems like a big >> I'm just looking at when the checks were out. They were last November and that was all, you know, is it is it the registrations? It's the pre-registering, isn't it? Because this started, these checks started to be paid on October 22nd, and there's a lot of checks in here all the way through December 17th. So, it looks like that's when people were working. Did they go to classes or were there um pre-registering or people coming and vote outside of the regular voting day? I don't know. I mean, and that's why you need all that extra staff. >> I think they need extra staff because of early voting. Early voting have Yeah, >> early voting is

136the obvious answer here. And I >> Yeah, excuse me. >> Oh god. Okay. Um, no. I I I get that and and I'm I a problem I don't an issue with it. It's just getting our actuals and looking at the jump in the budget for last year and then the expenditure, it raises the question for me. But I mean again conceptually I understand we're asking more from our elections people than we have before um in the past and that's okay. It just I guess it's the question that needs to be asked and um >> this is remember if we had those folks come talk to us. I don't think they did this. >> Hi this is Elaine pipe in a little bit as an election worker for years. I'm gonna go ahead and recognize Elaine

137just because >> Yeah. Um just this this next coming year we're going to have primaries and with your primaries you need you need double the >> um staff because you have a democratic line and you have a Republican line. So that's that's primaries that we really didn't have last year. Um, and then of course the November elections and then of course you're going to have your your budget votes too, your referendums, right? So there's like there's a there's the possibility of a whole extra um election that's going to take a good um number of people for voting and and when it comes to the primaries, I don't know if you get early voting for primaries, too. You probably do. >> That was my next Yeah, that was my question. I don't know about primaries actually

138because I mean some of us do caucuses. It's weird. Uh I'm not sure. >> Yeah. >> But but if the caucus goes ahead and the one of the people gets at least 14% of the vote during the the caucuses, then there's going to be a primary. Mhm. >> I know that's probably going to happen on the Democratic side anyway >> when it comes to to governor, but um I you know, I don't know what's going on in the Republican world when it comes to primary. >> No, I hear you >> at this point, but I but yeah. No, just in my looking at it. Yeah, that looks kind of high, but I do know that it's going to be more than it was last year. But >> right, it just it's one of these things

139where maybe it's a $1,000 increase instead of a 22. >> Yep. >> Okay. Thank you for that, Elena. Thanks for piping up. That was helpful. >> Um, >> yeah. So, training. I mean, this is a tiny increase. Uh, whatever. What is this? Equipment maintenance, new tabulator maintenance contract. Well, it's contract. So, >> yep, >> I'm assuming that's locked in. It is kind of is what it is. >> Supplies additional balance. We talked about that. That makes sense. And this is mill expenditure that I know they had asked about that. Um, I don't have a problem with it. If anybody else does, speak up now. I'm okay with that. That's this is not a huge amount of money. And I think I don't know that. Well, I will say this. There is this experience. >> There

140is. And we don't know how many election workers we're talking about in how many days. I mean, it'd be nice to see the math. >> 50% increase is pretty big. >> You know, see the math. >> 2500 and still be a fairly decent increase. >> I would I would think. Yeah. >> Right. We don't know how many people that's for. I guess that's the problem, >> right? How many people? How many days? Yeah. Let's Yeah. >> Okay. Save that. Fair enough. I mean, unless people want to move. I mean, we can move now. I Some of these are I'm kind of putting for later, but we could, again, Bill's mentioned this before and he's right. We could take action right now if we wanted to. Some of these I'm more inclined to be like, well,

141maybe we should ask, you know, our elections folks to come talk to us andor have that Boris Lechman try to have that joint meeting. But absent that, I my my thought would be we'd come back to all of these, right? We've highlighted all this stuff and we would come back to them. >> Um I'm okay going in either direction, guys. If you want to make a cut or not make a cut, I personally would be fine with leaving it, coming back to it, but it's up to you. >> I'd rather h talk to Linda and find out ahead of time before cutting it and have them go back again because I'm sure there's a decent reason for that. >> Okay. I I I imagine that may be the case, so I I'm kind of with

142you there. >> All right. Moving apartment. Well, what we see here is I think it's just all wage. Mhm. >> 3% wage stuff. >> Yeah. >> Boom. Across the board. >> This is one thing where, you know, none of us, we haven't really talked about it. We haven't challenged it. Um, my personal take is that 3%'s perfectly reasonable wage increase, and I don't have a problem with it. But if anybody wanted to say, well, what if we took all those threes and made them two and a halfs or something, you know, this is your time to talk. Um, >> I don't know how much that would produce. You know >> how many of these people are union? >> Yeah. Well, I thought I thought a lot of these I thought a lot of them were

143that they the board of sman had to make choices for the non-union people and I don't remember if this is clearly laid out in this document. So that's a really good point because there's some things you just simply cannot >> I would think for one is good for the other if you have >> well I do too. I agree with you. How you >> I think only one in that department is union. >> I think the rest are all part-time, >> right? >> Oh, part time. >> Part-time. >> Well, look at their salaries. >> Yeah. I mean, look at these numbers, guys. I mean, >> that's not a big job. >> This is the one that looks like full-time. >> 18,000 30,000. That's not a full-time job, I don't think. Right. Wait a minute. Town

144planner. Didn't we Didn't we Wait a minute. Town planner, didn't we? >> We had the um planning. What was it called up up top? Liz, you're right. Uh >> CD. >> Yeah, the $15,000 project. >> Take this. Okay. All right. Now, I'm trying to remember my lore. >> This one I think has a specific role, but um >> Oh, wait a minute. I That's That's Ti. Is that Ti that does um um that's who that is? Ti planners. It's an organization. It's a business and they help us with all we had them at the other town I was into and they are very good and I will say that we were >> okay. But um a town planner like we had one with that's another shared service that we were using until we got teaching

145um which is spelled t y ce I think but some individual like planners that we were paying were like 65,000 a year. So I I mean to have them at 48,000 and do the things they do I don't know. I guess talk talk to your building department and see what they think. But I thought I always thought they were worth the money. That's just me. >> Oh yeah. I'm not saying they're not worth the money. I just wonder >> they're an organization. It's not a person. It's like they send one or two reps out to cover whatever you need done. >> All right. Sorry guys, I lost my place. I was trying to go up and find >> There is >> um Did I miss um I'm sorry. I had a call. Uh wages IWC.

146What that is? >> Inland wetlands. >> Oh, inland wetlands. Thank you. I'm sorry. Thank you. >> Yeah, not all the acronyms are clear. >> J% to me in my opinion, we all know what it's like. I mean, >> that's the sort of >> gas. Everything's gone through the roof. I mean, to tell people something, some people don't. I don't know. It's >> I'm okay with it. I just wanted to raise it as an issue because it's propagated throughout this budget. >> Yeah. So far we've seen >> I personally am cool with it, but we've cut more supplies. >> I would cut more I would cut more supplies before I would touch somebody's >> right somebody. >> Speaking of which, this is interesting. Look at this thing bounce around. Um, >> that must be very variable.

147I don't want to mess with it necessarily based on that, but wow, it really seems >> crazy. >> Office supplies. What kind of office supplies do you need for $1,800? >> Apparently, we spent $2,100 one year. Look at that. >> Yeah, but >> for then we spent 20 bucks this year. >> Yeah, that doesn't make sense. >> Looking at that >> could be like a printer or something which >> Yeah, that's what I'm looking at right now. And it does say >> it's the ink. You all know it's the ink printer. Ink. Yeah, there's several charges for for supplies of 49356. That almost sounds like a lease for a postage machine or something. Unless Oh, is it possible a broad printer lease like quarterly? I wonder like the big huge broad printer for larger. Did

148we lease that? I don't know. Did >> But how can we go from 197 >> to 2100 to $19? >> Yeah, I'm going back to 21. I was just trying to go back and see because you said back through the years, but so far >> extremely variable. Wow. >> Yeah. So far this year it's only been two Amazon purchases for 16 and $18. So >> yeah. So we're above this 16 and 18 you said >> 35 bucks. >> I'd be in favor of cutting that. But >> um there's something else in here for um blueprints. Oh, >> action blueprint and supply. So, that was in May of last year. They spent $240 for that and then they spent that again in January of last year. >> Um, >> the difference there's a lot of work

149going on again with bridges, uh, school work. I don't know. >> Yeah. I don't I don't I'm a little hesitant here. >> Yeah. like the amount of savings we could find here is so small that I don't know >> we can ask about it but if we cut this I' I'd recommend a small cut guys that's my take that's just my my take but it is it's interesting 200 one year 2000 another that's bouncing around like crazy and >> and again some of some of the projects you know what I'm saying like the bridge of the school or >> Yeah, I don't know. >> I'm okay with it. >> And here we have equipment for 200 $250 and >> I don't even know what that means. >> Right. In in the past two years there

150was zero and then the current year zero. Is that just a fluff line just for >> what? This year? Oh, you mean this year? Sorry. This year is variance. But yeah. So >> yeah, >> 250 last year. We didn't spend it apparently or at least not yet. >> Didn't spend anything in 2023 2024. Didn't spend anything in 2024 25. >> Um so >> yeah, I mean one we could >> seems like a seems like a fluff line. >> Esposibly. I don't know if we went back, you know, again, one of these things where you go back, but um >> Well, I'm back to 22 and I'm not seeing anything. >> Okay. Well, then folks, I mean, that's when we could realistically probably cut unless there's a specific purpose for this money. >> We could zero

151it out and ask, is there a specific need? >> Is that a new line item? That that line item I would Oh, right. That's a question. Was that put in new? >> Was that something that's just been added? I mean, >> if I go back >> Let me go back to all. If I pull all transactions, the earliest transaction was June of 22, but it's not a purchase. It's to record summary from admin system. If that gives you a clue about the admin system, that's how far back this goes. And there's nothing else in it. So I I know this is what I didn't do it. I wasn't here. But I don't know what that's all I have for a memo to record summary from Edmond's system for 3203 in June of 22. >> This

152is the building department, right? >> Yeah. >> Well, well, we're being generous on office supplies. Maybe we can zero this one out. >> That That's fair enough. Uh do anybody want to make a motion on this? >> I'll make the motion to zero out the line item. >> Okay. Bill motions. Anybody second? >> I have a question on this. >> Yeah, please. >> Action Blueprint. It's actually a printing It's a printing solutions um company and they they deal with high-end CAD and graphics printing solutions. So, I wonder if there's some sort of a thing. Maybe because of the um uh opening of the theater center, >> right? >> Maybe they did something special for that. I don't know. >> They may have needed like uh property line. >> Yeah. >> Stuff. Okay. There's there's one

153in October of 23 to action blueprint. There's one in September of 24 and there's one in January of 25 and another one in May of 25. They're all around 200. Let's see. $90. Um 240. They're all about 240 except for >> Okay. So, hold on a minute. Wait a minute. >> Where are >> you're saying there's $240 expenditure? You know, so the 20 this this here this was back in 23 and 24. This was years ago. >> This 23 24 actual zero here in this chart, but it doesn't. >> Oh, I'm talking about office supplies. I'm not talking about Yeah. No, I was talking about office supplies with with action blueprint is in office supplies years. >> This is why we get to 2000 here. Yeah. Okay. >> Right. >> That's what you're talking about.

154>> Yeah. >> And we're down here. equal equipment. >> Yeah, equipment. There's there's I don't see anything in there. There's like I said, that's back to 22 and there's nothing in there. >> All right. Right. >> Wait, sorry. So, Bill moved to cut it to zero. >> Kim, was it that you that seconded? >> Yes. >> Okay. Do we have any further discussion? My only thought is, is that budget accidentally getting lop looped in with the office supplies? Because if you add that to the 1,800, you're almost getting closer to where that actual's hit for the office supplies >> for for 25 24. >> Uh, if I add the total 18 if say I add 1,800 plus, >> then I'm getting closer to that. Yeah. So, I'm wondering if they're miscoding the purchase somehow. >>

155That's a good question. But, fair enough. >> They can make do for 1,800 with 1,800. >> I think I survive. >> I disagree with that, but I wonder. >> Yeah. No, that's an interesting thought as to maybe why it happened that way, but um Okay. Do Sorry. Is there any further discussion on this motion? >> All right. Let's go around. Um, Liz, >> yes. >> Keb, >> yes. >> Louise, >> yes. >> Heather, >> yes. >> Nick, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. >> Me, yes. 70 passes. So, let me put this to zero. Put this to zero. again. Of course, Lisa can track this her properly, but I want this in my way. Okay, so that's building department. Very good. Uh, where are we? It's 9:09. Let's think about where we are in this

156spreadsheet. Good lord, we have not gotten anywhere near capital. Oh, boys. Yeah, I mean, I don't know about you guys, but we need another meeting. Uh, even if we get through I'd like to get through a little bit more, but I don't know about you guys. I I'd like to maybe try and call this around 9:30. How do you How do you all feel about it? >> I'm good to 10:00, but I'll I'll go with what everybody else wants to >> I just feel like there's a point at which after about two and a half hours, everybody starts to get fried. >> Yeah, I'm good with 9 9:30. >> Okay. Um, that's my goal, but I'm not saying it's has to be exactly that. What do you think, Bill? Sorry. >> No, I was just

157thinking like in the past we kind of tried to highlight some of the bigger changes. We've been looking a lot. >> Yeah, we did. And then we're going really slowly and minutely here. >> You know, $100, you know, $50, you know, maybe we could try and bang out some of the bigger ones and that are going to make a difference. >> Yeah, I hear you. I'm trying to move along quickly, but yeah, you're right. We're getting we we are bogging down a bit at times. Um >> Oh, sorry. Let's let's move on. Um, so with apparel services, I I'm guessing this is a third party. >> No, that's the member. That's the $189 a month for the time clock. >> Yeah, that's the time clock. >> Yeah. >> So, if we were to make if

158we switch >> ADP, we could get rid of that line. It's >> you get rid of it, but you'd have to put 3,000 in then for ADP because when I'm saying it's a thousand more, it's you've got to include that 2,000 in there. >> Oh, all right. Hold on a minute. >> We talked about it up up higher. Is it >> right? We did >> in treasur selectment to review that. >> Yeah, >> we're talking about a change in operations here. That's >> so we're talking about here it's here. It's um sorry here it's 3,000ish here. But if we did it when we get down to this you'd zero that out. >> Right. And that's out to about a thousand >> and pound to take up. We're not supposed to >> Yeah. We're tossing an

159idea around and I think it's a great recommendation. >> I wouldn't make any cuts right now. This is just a talk. Yeah. >> So, we should bring up with the BOS. >> Okay. >> A lot of this is zero or under. >> Let's look at office supplies. >> Office. >> There we go. >> Hey, it looks like actually looks like we're doing well here. >> Well, this one for the the first one I'm like, oh, actually that's fine. Um, >> yeah, >> I have no issue with that. >> This is the town office. Is that how Jeez, what do they pay for? >> Sorry. Town office building. >> What kind of office supplies do they buy for 6,000? >> Probably a lot of paper would be my guess. >> A lot of paper. >> Yeah,

160you're right. >> And probably I don't know. Ink for I don't know. Oh, no. Printing is here. Printing separate. I don't know. >> Oh, printing. No, printing. That's probably for mailers and stuff. And there's eight. Yeah. >> How many printers do you have? There's one, >> you know, in each office. >> Yeah. >> Um, this was a per box. This is probably clearly a particular thing. It's just not explained. Um, says 0%. Oh, no. It say sorry, it's the same. Sorry. We haven't spent it three years, two years running. >> So, we're good. >> So, it's 500 bucks. Yeah, it looks like >> there's there's a bill in here for checks and envelopes. Um that's pretty big for office supplies for all the checks. >> Oh, there you go. That makes sense. >> Uh do

161we want to move on or do we want to linger on uh say this $500? >> I'm okay with moving on. Okay, I'm good with moving on. >> Advertising is flat. Insurance no increase given yet by Kerma. Yeah, on the workman's com. >> I've written to them, too, and I still haven't heard anything. >> I should call again. >> I have a doubt. Uh, but okay. I mean, >> doubt >> about whether it'll be 0% increase, but we'll see. >> Yeah, because we're asking for a three-year price. >> I don't know why they haven't gotten it to us yet, though. >> So, for instance, Lisa, three-year price. So for instance, this year, this year, like these were a lock in, >> Right. >> Yep. Yep. And and that's >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. You can

162There's, you know, the next year I'm just assuming that it's gonna >> So I can't imagine like this looks low to me. Um I mean this is property casualty, right? And stuff like that. >> Yes. Yep. >> Okay. It's workman's comp. It's workman's comp. >> I'm on the claim side. I'm not an actuary, but >> Well, could it have been locked in at 122 last year for a couple years? >> I don't think so. Not. But again, I don't know. You know what? They're probably sending the email to the town planner, a town manager. So, I don't know if we're just not getting that. I wrote to them and asked them to write to me, but I don't know if it's going somewhere else. So, I don't know why they haven't gotten back to me

163because I did contact them and they haven't gotten back to me. They're usually pretty good, but it could be they don't have me on record and they're sending the email with the increase where it would bounce, >> right? >> I don't know if Jeff would see it or not, but that's why I I contacted them and said, "Please send it to me." And I haven't heard >> Yeah, I'm glad you did that. Um, yeah, I keep trying to run that down, I guess. Um, that's a really good question. And I mean, I just I look at this number. If if the contract's up, right? We had a three-year deal and it's up, no way. Not a chance to know. Anyway, moving on. We got we got to run that down, but there's nothing we can

164really do with it right now. >> Nothing we can do right now, >> right? So, let's move. This is benefit stuff. I'm assuming this basically just keys off of >> payroll and what we're being told you know oh here's my question sorry health dental >> Lisa as you know the consortial >> went up to 21% yeah see again I haven't been notified if it's the same then I can change it if you want but I'm not getting >> I think it has to go I don't know I think we only have a few people on our insurance >> like five or six >> right but This has to be This has to be updated. This isn't the right number, I don't think. >> Um, >> you mean the 15%. >> Is that what you're talking

165about? >> Well, I don't know. Okay, so here's my question, right? Does this line is this just the people we have on our insurance or is this every >> Don't forget the buyouts. This is probably where all your buyouts. >> Do we increase our buyouts? So okay we had a 15% premium increase for our healthcare consortium right? >> Mhm. >> That affects directly like four or five people. >> Yeah. >> The other people have we as a course of performance um when the premiums go up for everybody else do we increase their swipe end or what whatever we call it the the offset >> the thing that we give them to not take our returns. >> I'm not aware of that. I thought it was just a flat. This is a flat 15. >> Uh-huh.

166>> And I'm thinking to myself, okay, is that even first of all, was this right before? And then is it right now? Because all right, we have a 6% further increase again directly hitting four or five people. Then we have these other people that we essentially pay. Oops. Sorry, guys. Oh god, I touched the wrong part of my keyboard. >> We pay them if they don't take our insurance. >> Yes. Uh yes, because it's a great deal if they don't take it. >> I think it's I think it's up to like $6,000 or something. >> We give them a flat amount of money so they can stick it in a healthcare savings account or something. >> Well, that's awfully nice of them. >> Well, the other the other option is they just take our insurance.

167>> Rob, the insurance is very expensive per person. >> It's Joanne real quick. I do I have info on this just since you're on this. >> Sorry, Ela spoke up just because >> Is everybody okay with me just letting >> Yeah, >> Julian explain? >> Sure. >> Any complaints? Okay, go ahead, Jay. >> No, I mean it is it does go up. It's it it is a benefit that um you know the town has been considering possibly dropping in the future, but there it is still in their policy book. But it, you know, for people not taking insurance, they get half of the single insurance rate. So say it costs $14,000 to ensure a person who takes the single insurance, >> they get seven. >> They get half of that as a stipend instead of

168what other towns do, which is offer like $1,000 or $1,500. you know, it's a policy that's being looked at, but we can't speak to that. So, in their policy book now, to answer Heather's direct question, they do get paid to not take insurance to that high rate. And that's good for the taxpayers to know, too. And then the other thing is um you know even though it's been argued that you know people will only take insurance if they need it because they have to pay their 14% or whatever your you know whatever the going rate in the contracts are. Um that thank you. I mean it's it's hard to hear things that I know direct info on because I've researched it so extensively. Hey, that will go up as well. But I don't think you

169guys if you haven't, >> if I understand you correctly, Joan, just go ahead to break in. >> If we have a percentage increase, >> yeah, >> it is in fact potentially appropriate for that percentage increase to propagate across everything like because the stipens go up too. >> Correct. >> Okay. Wow. That was the key thing that I was trying to get to. Is that line item right? Is that what we need? Shouldn't it be 21 now? >> Yeah. But the thing is this, Rob, to I think to Joannne's point, are people gonna go out and buy insurance? You're you're married and you get insurance through work, right? >> Your wife works in a town. Is she going to say, "Oh, if you're not going to get me a stipen, I'm going to buy the insurance."

170No, they're not going to buy the insurance because they already have it. >> It depends. >> Really? >> It depends. Because as an example, Bill, sorry, Lisa, I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> No, that's okay. Because what will happen, Bill, is what they'll do is they like I was on my husband's plan, but your premium that you pay is very small when you go to a single plan and your husband goes to a single plan. So, people will leave their husbands or or wives plan because it's still going to be cheaper for them just to take the town plan as a single. So, they're not on. And the average, the thing to remember is a single plan, last I knew that I looked, is about $18,000 a year for the town. A plus one is probably

17125,000 and a family is probably 30,000 a year for the town. So, paying them 6,500 is a lot less than putting them on the insurance. >> O, I hear you, but I just have a hard time thinking that people are going to do that. But >> no, there that people will I debated it myself when I had it. I had a stipen where I was and if they took that away, I would go off my husband's plan because it would be cheaper for me to get the single plan than stay on his plus one plan. >> I think never heard that. And that I mean >> I mean >> I don't get I don't get a stipen if I don't take my insurance. >> No, it was an incentive. Well, sometimes some companies will increase

172your salary because you're not taking the insurance. >> So, it all depends on the company. >> Alternatively, they'll penalize you. At work, I every year I have to give what is almost an affidavit to um my employer to say that I have no other healthcare I could take. >> My employer just started that this year, too. If we if you can get two, three years at Travelers, if I had I mean, I'm not married anymore. when I was well she worked for travelers too so it didn't matter but if I had had a spouse who had you know benefits through a school system or something like that I would have to disclose that and there would have been an impact so there's a lot of this going on >> um all I'm seeing is this

173line item >> I I I have to wonder if this this should be 21% not 15 guys like this number here this formula right here in this line, >> right? Should that be 1.25 to one? 1 1.21. >> Probably. >> It should be. >> Yeah, probably. >> I think it is. Also, by the way, I think this is broken >> right here. Um, but I'll have to fix that formula some. I think that formula's broken. >> So, I I have maybe a thought. Um, >> yep. >> I was last year 100% against this whole stipen business. I didn't get it. I didn't understand it. >> Okay. I kind of I kind of see it a little more now because of the point that yes, if it's cheaper for someone who is married to let their

174husband stay on their own plan by themsel and then opt in on our lesser like we have lower paying premiums. I can see that point. But maybe we need to have the discussion with the board of selectmen. Um, if these aren't contracted, like if these aren't contracts, maybe we discuss renegotiating that stipen and make it a flat number, you know, let's no longer make it based on >> percentage half or whatever >> and help and and so make it a flat five grand. >> Yeah. >> Instead of because as insurance goes up and up and up, >> that's going to go up and up and up. Maybe they'd be happy to just get their five grand and just stay. Yeah, it's all a question of what the incentive what incentive works. I mean, >> yeah,

175>> everybody has to different situations. I'll I'll say this. Um, my ex-wife and I both work for the same corporation. >> We have health benefits that are in part dictated by how much money you make. The kids are under me for a reason, right? My kids are on my plan, not hers. It saves us money, >> right? And so everybody's making those calculations, right? Uh and so yeah, it's it's a question to ask. Um but you know, I'd be careful. My my question for the board is should we for the time being >> increase this number? >> Yes. Or should we leave? >> We should. >> I think we should go to 1.21, frankly. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Okay. And I don't know what's going on down here, but we're going to fix it.

176The other thing I heard today too was >> it sounds like the consortium is trying to add another town into the consortium and >> East might lower it might lower it a little bit. >> I mean, yeah, I'm not sure if that'll if that'll come through or not, but yes, I believe. And I thought they voted I was talking to Val about this. I I think it might go through. >> Oh, so that might because I heard their experience might be a little bit lower, so that might help. But to be on the safe side, we probably should use the 21% now. Yeah, >> I think we should put the 21 and and the 21 is Anthems or whoever they it's. It's their first go at it. So, it will probably come down, but I

177would put 21 in there. >> Okay. So, let's let's get a motion to do that so that we sort that out. Um, anybody want to make that motion? >> I'll make a motion to increase the health dental line >> before I I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Is dental included in that consortium? Anybody know? >> Says it right there. Health dental. >> I know. >> It's in that um Yeah, I'm thinking it's in that line. >> Okay. Apologies. Dental separate for me at work. So, my my bad, Liz. Go ahead. >> We increase the health dental line from 15% to 21%. >> I'll second it. Okay. Liz motions. Bill seconds. Discussion. Anybody? Okay, I'll call for a vote. Um, Kim, >> yes. >> Heather, >> yes. >> Liz, >> yes. >> Liz Louise, >> yes. >> Bill,

178>> yes. >> Nick, >> yes. >> And myself, I am also a yes. That's seven to zero. Uh, I've already made the change on my spreadsheet. Lisa, if you can update yours. This takes us up to >> for that line. >> Um, down here, I Well, we can talk about these lines in a moment, but down here, total time expenses. I I think something's wrong with this. >> Oh, yeah. >> This line right here. This looks broken. >> Yeah, it shouldn't be zero. >> It should not be zero. Something's off here. Uh, >> I'll take a look at mine. >> J and H. Why is it doing? >> That's weird. >> 190 J and H. >> So, this is J and this is H. So, it's this and this. That should not be computing to

179zero. >> No. >> Why is it doing that? >> That's delete the formula and I'm gonna delete it. >> That's what I was gonna say. Uh, okay. It was this. >> Wait a minute. What is your saying? Wait a minute. What is your saying? >> It said J and H. 190 J&H. >> Yeah, you have to divide you have to divide the variance by the previous year's budget. So, you're going to take that? >> Sure. But why is it 0%. >> Right. It's just not I honestly can't tell you why because the formula is in there. >> Oh, you know why? >> I know why. >> And it should be. It's There you go. >> Yeah. >> Fixed it. >> All right. I've done my one good deed for the day. That's what it was.

180It was set to the wrong settings. Okay. The formula was fine. Um, so there we are. >> Oh, your for You mean the format is wrong? Is that what you're saying? >> The format The format was wrong. >> Okay. Okay. >> The formula is okay. The format's wrong. >> Yeah. >> That's what it is. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um, >> yep. >> This is nothing basically. Um, okay. Are we good with this section, guys? Can we move on? >> Yeah. >> Anybody? Okay. Community center. By the way, I got um I spoke to Tess today uh about this. >> Oh, she's on now, too. Yes. So, if we And she was very clear. If people have questions about any of these line items, she's here to answer them. So, she's our resource tonight. I

181I feel like this might be our last big section uh tonight and then we should probably vote on whether we want to stick try to stick another meeting in and invite the board of select. So, let's do this. Um this is Tess herself obviously. Um this one is an assistant which I as I understand it this is a new position. This is not the position that exists. We're gonna hire somebody. >> Yep. >> Hi, Tess. All right, she's raising her hand. >> Yeah, Tess is raising her hand. >> Should we Should we just invite her into this discussion, folks, since she's right here? All right, hold on one moment. >> Where are you, Tess? Go ahead. Unmute yourself and uh >> go ahead and contribute. Um yeah, this is not a new position, but it

182was it was it was a position that was in um 2024 and um that person in this position um left the position and so um we haven't filled that position as of yet. What the board of selectmen did do was agreed that in the last meeting, and I don't know if it was a board of selectment or board of finance meeting, but the board of selectman did agree that this position um was approved for 15 hours at $25 an hour. And so there there is um that is available as we would hire somebody for that position. >> Currently we do not have an assistant. Currently what we do have is two directors >> right which we discussed and right >> it's an issue for the current budget not so much this one because this one

183starts in July one. Um but yeah um >> the 19,500 does reflect which we discussed Rob earlier was 19 hours at $25 an hour. >> Yep. Sorry. 19 not 15. >> Um excuse me. Pardon me. You're correct. 15 15 hours. So >> no no I just want to get it right. And I have notes. I've scribbled notes here, but you know, I'm dealing with my own handwriting. Um, okay. >> So, that's that's appreciated. Uh, that's for the two of you. You know, ultimately hopefully get somebody in there and the two of you can run that building. Um, folks, uh, you know, the board, let's Is there anything, you know, in here that people want to Oops. Darn it, Rob. anybody wants to ask Tess about while we have her. >> What's the uh conference seminar?

184>> Just here. >> Yeah, >> it's zeroed out. >> Why zero? >> Yeah, but what is it? >> Yeah, I'm not sure why that was zeroed out because we do belong to CASP. We do belong to um a couple different organizations that supply education to us. And so I'm not sure if that was uh something that I did or that was zeroed out for whatever reason. Um we do use that um line item. >> Can you tell us, Tess, why it's dropped from $3,400 down to $600? >> Um I'm not sure. I was here in August of 2024. That was when I was hired and that was when the building opened. So I'm not sure. That looks like um I I don't know the answer to that, Rob. Or excuse me. Um I I don't

185know the answer to that, >> Bill. >> Um >> yeah. >> Okay. >> So, but you would probably expect to need at least a $600 budget for that line, right? >> Um we we would need something in there. Absolutely. I because it looks like you've already spent 537 this year. So I'd imagine you would need at least 6 66 650 next year. >> Yeah. >> Um again I will defer to you. I will let the number speak for itself. So if it's 537 or if it's 600 or 650. Um >> but you expect we'd have the same expense tests. Um, I would expect to have the same the same expense for conference and seminars. Absolutely. >> It's not I'm looking at what I got Tess and the line isn't there >> in what was given

186to me. That line just is is gone. It >> maybe it was an accident. >> It's kind of weird. >> It's not there. >> If you adjust if you adjust 537 as seven months out of 12, you get to $920. There's a case to be made here. This should be like a,000 bucks. >> I'd put it at 650 again, but >> Okay. No, I'm just going off like again there's different ways of doing it, but yeah, you could do that. >> Yeah. >> I don't know how if this is literally is this is really seasonal. >> So, I will say that I haven't yet had a full year as in in this position yet. So, so I was away for a while and I came back. Um I was in in the middle of a

187a fiscal year being in a or just starting in August. I didn't set that uh 23 24 budget. Um that was set for me. And so um I do know that we have memberships to different organizations. Um, so Lisa, you said what was spent already >> on conferences or or trips? Which are you talking >> conference seminar? >> Let me see. >> So that's 537 on your chart. >> I can't imagine it being that expensive. >> So far this year, $536. motion motion picture license and aging aging seminar. >> So So that I would I would not have considered that. I would consider that a contractual um a contract something that comes every year. And so that's where we are able to watch movies and things like that. I'm I'm okay to decrease that line.

188>> Oh. So, so, so we do watch movies. Um, some of those movies now, um, we do have videos, actual videos themselves. And so, I didn't know what that meant. So, it's not conference. So, maybe we should >> move that. >> Yeah. >> Where would you move it? Where would you move it to, Tess? >> I wouldn't rename it. >> Yeah. >> Name it. Okay. >> Wow. >> That would make a lot of sense to me to rename this. Um, >> what would you rename it >> like entertainment contracts or >> because that's not under >> senior activities or anything. >> No, you know what I I would say if we don't need that, let's just take it out completely. Um, let's just take it out completely. >> All right. So, it's out. >> It's

189already out. It's already zeroed. >> The question is, do we add a line and we add a Why can't I get this to work? >> I don't think that would named properly. And it would have been under contractual, not under conference seminar. >> Where is contractual? >> It isn't. That's what she said. Maybe change that line to it. Um I would say if we don't we haven't necessarily used it. We do have the DVD uh um machine that we bought and so we have videos. So the only reason why we would do that is to watch a video for our seniors a movie day and so we have the actual DVDs to play. We don't have to have that. So, that's not the license for the um the movies like um I don't know. I'm

190not sure if you have Amazon or anything like that. When are the movie channels? We don't you don't have anything like that, right? >> Um that would cover it, but we haven't used that in there. Yep. We haven't used it since I've been there. >> Okay. Yep. >> I think we just zero it out, leave it, and move on. >> Yep. What about Oh, go ahead. So what about um education educational like conferences and whatever do you are do you guys do that? >> We certainly do and I think that is so I that's why I was confused on conference seminar. I believe that's under senior center. >> Oh you think it's under senior center not community center. Yeah. So that's the problem. I think there's a little bit of >> there isn't check while

191you're talking. Yep. You passed it >> and there was pass it. >> Yeah, >> there were two things that >> there senior transport senior citizens. So >> training >> senior >> uh let me just think about this. We talked about this a little bit >> kitchen supplies was overlapped with with community training and I don't understand what the $39 was. Lisa, can you tell me what $39 is? >> Where's the 39? What do you Where are you? Because I'm over here looking at my screen too at the same time. Public public welfare senior citizens training training and >> that doesn't make sense that 39. Okay, hold on. >> That doesn't make sense either. >> Senior citizens. Hold on. said I want to go down to senior citizens >> and I do know that as as

192municipal agent if this is under so resident services coordinator I think that's just a different name for municipal agent and social services municipal agent does not necessarily have to have a um salary but social services I think that's what that is four. Is there training for that? Yes, there is. But since I've only been here since November in that position, I don't know what that line's going to look like. Is it $2,000? >> Wait, go back to the $39. We got Let me get to that first. It says >> people's choice. Oh, it's the It's a credit card charged at Walmart. That's all I have here for a memo. >> Yeah. or menus. >> Yeah, I have no idea. So, I would say decrease decrease that line item >> training. >> Yeah, >> this is

193the one we talked about earlier today, Tess. >> Well, there I think it's somewhere else >> because remember you had zero in the community center training line and 2K here and you said something about me my notes. I'm reading my notes and I'm like, "Oh, these made sense to me at the time." And now you know literally two hours later I can't remember memberships conferences had been you've been you had been using out of this line or somebody had been using out of this line. Is that right? So yeah. So, so if we go back to community center conference seminar, what that was for, I guess I'm thinking, and that's what I put my line item under was cash. >> That's why it was zeroed out >> and all of those things was this 537.

194I didn't realize that that was that contractual um membership to movies. I would say take the movies out, but again there needs to be something in there for training. So I think these line items don't necessarily accurately depict what is being used in them if that makes sense. >> So conference it does I'm trying to figure out the best fix. >> So if we go here this is zeroed out right now, right? And then if we go down here, >> where were we? Did I pass it again? >> I did. >> Right there. >> Oh, right there. There you >> That training though in that line is for volunteer food handlers because they have to have training, safety training, CPR, and first aid. >> It's the 600 increase if you look at. So it was

195650 that got cut up top and a 600 increase here. Unless this stuff went up that could be the net out and it actually could be okay. >> Well, yeah properly is another question. >> Okay. >> the reason the zero is up there is because the in the budget worksheet that we were given there is that line is not in that budget worksheet. That's why therefore this 600 was not intended as an offset. No. Right. Like if you'd gotten her budget and she'd zeroed that out and said, "Stick it here." You would have seen that. But you didn't. >> Yeah. Because the line is there, >> which means this is not an offset. >> But we don't need an offset, right? Isn't the 650 for something we don't need? >> Right. >> Yes. >> So,

196we should move on. >> Sorry. I I guys I'm I'm working off notes and and um my earlier conception and I'm still adjusting. >> So are you saying you want to put that 600 extra in training? You want to move that up to training for community? >> No, I'm not saying that. I I guess honestly I think All right, guys. I think the answer here is we're talking about 600 bucks and I think that tests need to a year in the position and can maybe we fix this next time like in terms of where it should be put. I think we're at the okay I think the numbers are fine where exactly they should be displayed. Maybe give Tess a year in a position you know. >> Yeah, we could talk that over with the

197BOS when we get together with them. Yeah. >> And and it works. >> Or maybe Tess >> I was going to say maybe Tess, you can talk to them, get it straightened out so that when the time comes and we get together, it's just bing bang boom. >> Yep. >> Right. >> I I I can do that. I will say the volunteer food handlers uh once we get the stove ready, we are going to have to train the volunteers to know what to do in the kitchen. And that will I'm okay with the way it is. I would say take away the 650. >> Take away the 650. >> Okay. It's It's done. >> The 650. It was already >> It's already done. >> Already done. >> All right. So, we're good. We're good there,

198guys. Let me just go back up. We weren't done with that section. Hopefully, we can get through it. Where were we? Come on, Rob. Community center. We were down >> 424. Yeah. >> Okay. Kim's dropping off. Um, so we were here. Um, put it that way for myself. Do we have All right. Building M. The only other question I had here that jumped out at me was the building maintenance line. Um, >> going from I mean it's brand new building, so obviously that makes sense. Zero, whatever. Uh we spent very little this year. Uh we budgeted 1,500. We're nowhere near it. And then we're increasing it, >> right? >> Uh you know, if there's a specific reason for that, I don't problem. But um I don't know. I >> Yep. >> Maybe >> I have

199the same question. Yeah, I have the same question with the HBAC line. It's brand new. Is there something >> like how much could filters cost basically? I don't know what you're doing with uh H sorry maintenance. I mean obviously you're going to get a tuneup to your system. I guess uh but are these really Oops. Are these real numbers? I guess. >> Yeah, >> I think they're just uh I think they tried to stay status quo from year to year when they did this whole, you know, for the stuff that they didn't know. >> Well, this was an increase. So that's that's what jumped out of me. But yeah, you're right. This is >> I would make the motion that we that we cut back the building maintenance >> back to 15. >> That HVAC

200might be actually a service agreement. >> Uh, sorry, Tess raised her hand. Do you have information for us, Tess? >> Um, I really don't, but what I do have to say is that we do have that grant that came in after this budget was put forth. So I don't know if um I tried to stay status quo but uh um again if that grant covers the completion of the building then then again yes these numbers would go down I would assume >> how much was the grant >> the I think the one that covers primarily the generator but apparently not just >> there was a kitchen grant wasn't there >> yeah or something we're throwing at the kitchen. Anyway, I I'm a little I got a little turn around on that, but um I know

201we had the grant for the generator for the hookup for the three buildings, and when Tess and I were talking and uh earlier today, there was some question as to whether that grant was solely about the generator or if it covered a few other things like maybe the kitchen. Um excuse me. Um, so building maintenance bill, you've moved to cut this from 2,00 to 1500. >> I did. >> Anybody second? >> I'll second it. >> Louise seconds. Great. Any discussion? All right, let's go around the horn. Liz. >> Yeah. >> Kim. Oh, Kim left. Duh. Sorry. Louise. >> Yes. >> Uh, Heather. >> Yes. Nick, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. >> Me, yes. That's 6. Uh, again, we're missing Kim. Uh, she had to go. So, I will I'll adjust this. Cut from 1500.

202Boom. Okay. Save. Okay. Uh, everything else here is either flat or a cot. Does anybody have Excuse me. Um, well, we were you somebody raised this one, right? >> Yeah, that that could be a maintenance contract. >> It could be. >> Yeah. >> I don't want to necessarily mess with that because I >> Yeah. Like again, for the amount of money you'd save to to screw something like that up, I'd rather leave it. >> Yep. >> A weird number, too. >> Maybe put maybe just put the question in the memo and we can ask it's a contract. If it's not a contract, maybe it's an area >> contract. You got it. >> Okay. >> Everything else looks good going down or back there. Uh, what about janitorial supplies? That's a pretty good increase right there.

203>> Oh, there you go. >> Oh, dishwasher supply, ice maker cleaner. And I'm assuming I could be wrong here and maybe Tusk can pipe in, you know, if they complete the kitchen might they might need a little more. I don't know. I I know it's not the furnish, not the furnishing, the cookware or whatever. That's at a separate line, but um we haven't spent very much. So, that's up a fair bit. Yeah, that's a good point. I mean, how much dishwasher supply and ice cream cleaner? >> Yeah, >> it seems like I I would roll that back to last year's mile 15 >> or maybe split the difference. Yeah. >> Or split the difference. >> I make the motion. >> Motion, T. Go ahead. What do you got? >> Um only that um with the

204new stove coming in and the hookup and things like that. Um I don't know if there's going to be um more people in the kitchen generating more um soap, more all of those things. So it's not just dishwasher supply, ice maker cleaner, but it's also paper towels and things like that. That's that's that was my initial gut reaction was like if we get the kitchen done. Um it's not a huge amount of money, but I also would not be horrified if we cut that to say 2,000 or something and save 500 bucks. I >> I'd make a motion to cut it to $2,000 >> and and I can agree with that. Yep. >> Okay. >> Second. >> All right. Um sorry. Uh do we have a second? >> I'll second it. I'll second. Sorry. Um,

205who second? Who got that in first? Louise. Thank you. Apologies again. I'm going off voice. I think I knew everybody's butt. Okay. So, bill motions to cut from 2500 to 20,000. Louise seconds. Do we have any further discussion? All right. We'll call for a vote. Uh, Liz, >> yes. >> Heather, >> yes. >> Louise, >> yes. >> Nick, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. and myself. I will also vote yes. And again, Kim isn't with us anymore. So that's six to zero. Motion passes. We will adjust that line. Okay. Okay. Computer repair service. Um >> we got spending it >> zero. >> I mean I get it. It almost feels like contingency. Oh, Tess, go ahead. >> No, sorry. Um, there was my my computer is broken and and every time I open it, the

206whole sides will literally open up and >> I have that, too. >> So, I did I did see that line item. I I thought that this was for the IT person, but I was told it wasn't. That's why back in December, um I believe it was December, I did order a new computer for myself which was in the budget. >> And so that was on hold for however long for whatever reason. That probably hasn't come in yet. So maybe Lisa can speak to that if that has come out of my line item or not. Am I >> right now? zero. >> Correct, Lisa? Because I did pay for >> No, no, right now it's $14.75 and it's for Yeah, the laptop is now in there. >> Okay. Because it was >> Plus, there's another little

207per people's choice thing for $100. >> Yeah. >> So, wait, so it's 1575. >> It's 1475. That includes the people's choice of $100. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry. >> Okay. So, >> new computer can What's the 2500 for this year? if you got the new computer. >> So, what we were thinking was to add a computer for the community to come because a lot of the seniors can't do um are unable to do it by themselves. We were going to help them do that. So, if we had a computer at the center for the seniors, um that was primarily what that was for, just a just a basic computer that they can um maybe renew their driver's license and we can help them with things, some IT things for them. I I would I would say

208that that is an excellent idea, but in a year that we have an incredibly large increase we're looking at, it might be a want and not a need. >> Okay. >> I don't know if anybody else feels that way. I'm just throwing that out there for discussion. >> And can't we use the uh library computer for that too >> to help them? >> Yeah, there's a number of library >> Yeah, if the library has that. Um we a lot of our seniors just don't go to the library. um a lot of them come to the senior center while they're already there for other activities. So we thought that might be an ideal time to help them to help them. So again, I'm completely open. If the board of finance believes that that's not perhaps that's

209a a want and not a need, then absolutely I would defer to them. I I think it's a great idea and I but I I kind of remember was it this past I don't know whenever there was the big board of selectman meeting and it had you guys on almost a panel that this was brought up and did somebody suggest talking with the school about >> secondhand computers or something that they were would hand down and just I mean I'm not poo pooing this at all um but is there a way of reusing other equipment that might still have good amount of life left. That's all >> I think. >> Yeah, that's a >> great idea. >> Didn't Eric at one time say that there were a number of used computers that kind of get

210replaced and then they're just sitting there that there was other computers that could be used. >> Yeah, that's kind of what I was wondering. Yeah. >> Yeah, I would love to know that. >> Um, that's what Eric said at one time. I think last year. Um I again I think it's a great idea, but I do think there's other resources that uh these people could use in a year where we're looking at an extremely high budget. So >> I don't know what are you talking another how much would be how much would a computer be? Is there a used option? >> Yeah. Can we knock it down to the thousand? I mean I looked at computers, you know, there are cheaper computers than that for sure. laptops >> and you can you can buy a

211you can buy a pretty basic laptop for five 600 bucks. >> Yeah, 5600 bucks. I was just looking at them at Staples. So, I'd be in favor of making a motion to drop that to $1,000. I don't know if anybody else. >> Well, anybody that motion? >> I'll second that. >> Okay, Nick will second. So, Bill moves we drop this from 2500 to a,000. Nick seconds. Any further discussion on the matter before we vote? >> I think it's kind of low. >> Oh, sorry. No. Who thinks it's low? >> Liz, >> I think I I think >> Okay. >> I think a thousand is low. I'm going to say no. >> Okay, that's fair. >> You want to You want to throw a different number in there, Liz? >> Friendly amendment. >> I'm open. >>

212Uh I mean, I I would knock it down to 2,000. I think the senior center needs uh resources to do what they need to do. And so I I might knock it down to to 2,000, but >> I mean, I'm okay with that. If people want to amend the motion and do it again, >> if you want to continue the vote, if you want to continue the vote on this first motion, that's fine. >> I can also do that. I mean >> from Nick and Heather um and Louise just to see what your thoughts are. >> Yeah, fair enough. >> Fair enough. So Liz is a know for reasons stated. >> Um Louise, >> I'm on the fence with this one because >> I mean you can also get it from I mean a lot

213of people donate like Joe. He can he has certain computers that we can probably just donate. We didn't even know that they needed another one. >> Yeah. So I you know it the year is going to be tough. >> Be a tough year. >> Yeah. And test. No. No offense, but >> Yeah. I I just don't think it's needed. >> Oh, another So you're in favor? So you're in favor of the 1,000? >> No. No. I'm in No. Um I just don't think the whole thing is needed. It's 2500. >> Right. But the motion on the floor is to cut to 1,000. >> So, yay or nay on that? >> No. >> You're a no. Okay. But you you would go to zero. >> Yes. >> Okay. To be clear. >> Okay. >> Heather, Heather,

214>> I I would do the thous the thousand. >> You're a yes. >> Yeah, I'm a yes. >> Very good. Nick, >> yes for the thousand. >> Okay. Um, so that's two yeses, two nos. Bill. >> Yes. Terry, Tess is raising her hand in the middle vote. Um, Tess, what do you get to say before I make my vote? >> Tess, >> I'm so sorry. Is it possible to put that on hold for $1,000 and check to see where those extra computers are and see if they can be used? And if if they're available and can they be used with um I think it has to cover them with uh >> the software package or whatever. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Like Windows support or >> correct? But have the coverage for viruses as well. >>

215Sorry. Norton or whatever it is. >> Yeah. You mean the ones in the school? um wherever somebody somebody had mentioned that there are used computers that are available that Eric had mentioned. >> Okay. >> And again that was a year or two ago. I don't know if they're still available, you know, at this time. Tess >> um >> and I'm okay with $1,000. Um >> yeah. >> Okay, >> Rob. >> So I got to make a call here. Um here's my take. I'll I'll vote yes for now. We'll end up at a thousand, but I want to revisit it. >> I like that. So that would be motion that would be motion passes. Uh I think four to two >> or three to two. No, wait, wait, wait. Hold on a minute. Me, Bill, >>

216it was four to >> Nick, Heather. >> Mhm. >> Okay, those were our yeses. >> Y >> uh Liz was a no thinking it might be too low. Louise was a no thinking it might be too high. All right, motion passes for now. But yeah, I I want to come back to this. So how do we run that down, guys? Um, >> used computers >> available. Question question mark >> there's definitely opportunities explore that. >> Yeah. I think there might even be opportunities at AES for some reason. I thought >> maybe I mean I we can reach out. I can ask Val. I don't know what she's got. Um, it's late tonight but I'll try and >> Yeah. Yeah, for sure. That would be a great pal. um community type of thing. The PAL program

217>> for one of the kids to show one of the seniors how to do that on one of their computers. >> Yeah. >> Oh god, I remember trying to >> Oh, many many years ago when I used to actually be the wiz in the house, you know, and trying to explain to my father trying to explain to my father how to go onto the internet, >> find his cricket scores. I got to tell you, I it ended up being a 45step process because I had to tell him things like click on the thing, do it twice. >> Okay, so >> we're I'm clearly fried. So, we're at the end of the community center line. My thought is >> we should probably stop here because I don't know if I've got anything left in the tank

218and I don't know about the rest of you. I would suggest we now discuss whether we could get a meeting together maybe for Tuesday night. The reason I say Tuesday, I would normally pick Thursday, but I've got something Thursday. Um I think it's a the DTC caucus, so I can't bail on that. Um given that, what is people's availability for Tuesday night next week? >> Tuesday the 24th. >> 24th. >> I'm good. There's an RTC thing on Tuesday as well. I think it's quick. >> You guys are probably trying to do the same thing we're trying to do because a very tight time frame there for caucus stuff. >> Yes. Yes. >> Will this be at seven? >> So, we picked Thursday. You picked Tuesday. Oh, no. >> Yeah. So, RTC has a meeting on

219Monday and Tuesday. >> Oh, good god. All right. So, you're shot for Monday and Tuesday and I'm shot for Thursday. I mean, I could I could bail out of DTC and do something Thursday, I guess. Like, I I just think I think we need it. So, >> we absolutely need it. >> I I I I think we need it. And I think I just I might have to tell the DTC, sorry guys, it's more important for me to do this. So, do you guys Everybody else back around the horn is Thursday of next week, the 26th. Okay. >> Okay. Hang on one second. I'm reading my Let me just read my meeting. >> Let me read on my email real quick. >> Yeah. >> I can't do the 26th. >> You can't do the 26th.

220>> I can't do the 26th. No. >> Liz, do you have to go Monday and Tuesday? >> Yeah, I I'm looking at my email real quick. Uh, per the state, we must pick delegates in delegates. >> It is so have that starting on March 24th and get this information to the state by April 1st. Uh, we can discuss the delegates on the 23rd, but cannot pick them until Tuesday. Tuesday's meeting should be very short. I mean, I could just tell them I can't make it. I mean, >> it's up to you. I mean, I don't want to pull you out of that. I Republicans skip my meeting on the on Thursday, but if Tuesday got everybody, >> maybe we do it >> Tuesday. Yeah. this the idea behind this meeting is to propose that we

221try to get the any Boris selectman we can right >> yes correct >> okay >> I mean we could even well yeah I think we should get them >> I mean we have a meeting next Wednesday as well but >> we do >> I think the earlier we get them either either they come with us on the 25th and then we do the meeting on the 26th or they come with us on the 24th yeah >> 24th or 25th as meeting on the 24th at 7:00. >> Uh, that was the next thing I was going to check. Um, >> cuz maybe could we start at 7:30 if if that's the case? I don't know. >> Uh, let me see. Let me go back. Please mark your calendar. attendance is Can they possibly give us a

222time? Nope. >> It's almost certainly seven though, don't you think? >> It's It's most certainly seven. I think that's the assumed time. >> That's usually when we do everything, too. Um, yeah, >> unless there's a special reason not to. It's usually seven. >> And if that's the case too, that might affect the board of selectmen that might want to join those meetings as well. >> That's right. >> And and yours is on Thursday. T mine mine is Thursday, but I'm the only one affected here, I guess. Well, >> yeah, >> I'm the only one who's like a member of the DTC that would be affected. So, >> yeah, >> I my inclination would be if everybody else could make it, but I think Louise already said she couldn't, I would skip it. >> I'd do

223that. Um, you know, and if I skipped it, we would have six. >> I I do what we got to do. We I know we got to do something. But I also, you know, the the point that's being made here about it sounds like the RTC meeting on the um >> Tuesday is the one where they're going to be making choices. Ergo, >> yes, >> the most likely one where people kind of need to be there. Ergo, if you're going to lose people to it, >> that's like, you know, borders members, that's the one. So, >> as much as I'd like to say, oh, >> you know, we'd only be losing um Liz for for a period of time and maybe she can join Liz, you know, but no, if we're losing Murray and like

224multiple other members of board of select, then what are we doing? >> But is that meeting going to be short for them on the on Tuesday list? >> I I mean, >> it's going to be short. >> Yeah, >> it's going to be short. So unless we say let's start our Tuesday meeting at say 7:30 >> or 8 >> or or 8 that not that we want to do that but that would give >> if if the idea is we can get the board of select to ask them discrete questions about like 10 light items we highlighted maybe eight could work >> as well as agenda >> might be kid There's a limited agenda with >> Yeah. >> No. >> Um >> Yeah, but if it's a special meeting special meeting agenda, but we would

225we would try to focus it obviously, I would think. Right. >> What about what about Monday? C Can we start early on Wednesday? >> Well, Monday you have that other RTC thing. I know, but I think the mo the more important meeting of the two might be the Tuesday like I was >> because they have to do the delegates. >> I mean, Mondays kind of suck for me, but I I could try and do that if that's what works for everybody else. >> I mean, sure, the RNC >> will be very happy with me not not being there on Monday because that's do the bulk of their stuff. I mean, what are you going to do? >> What? I'm trying to I'm just trying to come up with something here. Um, >> can we start

226early on Wednesday at 6? Would that help at all? An extra hour? >> That's true. We did do that for the >> Yeah, >> based on this based on this meeting, I feel like we need more than an hour. >> I think so, too. >> If the point of If the point of that hour is >> Yeah. Yeah. No, you're right. Um, >> I think we need we might even want to do Tuesday and start early on Wednesday, >> right? >> Just with you, Heather. I think we >> we have a lot to do. >> I I I absolutely hate to say that, but so, all right, first things first. All right, 6 6 PM on on Wednesday. I could do. Um, are we trying to do something on the Tuesday? Sorry. Uh, where were

227what's the decision on that? >> Just let's just do it Tuesday. Just do it Tuesday. >> Okay. >> Is what it is. We'll let the other Republicans in town do it. Get it done. >> I don't honestly I've never been to one of those so I don't even know how it works. >> Maybe Tess could explain that to us how it works if anybody wants to hear that. I mean because she's she seems to know a little bit about it. >> Have you ever been have you ever done that before, Rob? Me >> on the DTC? >> Yeah. I mean, we have to we have to Yeah. The whole candidate nominations and voting and everything. I mean, it's um I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it, but I I've definitely gone in

228the past and I don't want to call it taking forever, but they you got to get a quorum together and you got to make decisions. So, um I'm just putting together an email here to Kate um to tell her Oh, first of all, we have to vote on this real quick, but assuming we vote on on this to have the extra meeting and then so the extra meeting on Tuesday would be seven or do we want to push it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Seven. And All right. So, I'll make the motion. Let's add a special uh board of finance budget workshop meeting Tuesday the 24th at 7 PM and invite the board selectman and we will move the start of our 25th the regular meeting I believe that's our regular meeting >> to six um

229and also mention that any board of select we can get to that would be also appreciated. I'm going to send an email to that board and Kate to that effect. Uh if we pass this, >> I'll second it. >> Okay, great. Do we have any further discussion? >> All right, let's go around the horn. Um Bill. >> Okay, so I just want to one more time. So it's seven on Tuesday and six on Wednesday. >> Yes. >> Yeah, >> that's the motion. >> I'm I'm good. >> You're Yes. Okay. Heather? >> Yes. >> Nick? Yes, >> Louise. >> Yes, >> Liz. >> Yes, sir. >> I am also a Yes. >> And someone hopefully Kim Yeah, we got to loop Kim in on that. Um, Liz, can you contact her? Thank you. >> So, hopefully

230we didn't just do something that doesn't work for her. Um, >> thank you all for that. I really appreciate it. Um, I'm going to finish that email. In the meantime, however, I suggest that we Oh, great. I don't have my PDF up anymore. Um, I believe at this point, if we're going to stop here for the budget, it's one round last round of public speak. So, let me see who's left. Uh, we've basically got Joanne, Tess, and of course, Lisa, who's been here the whole time. And, uh, so, um, Joanne, do you have anything for us? >> I won't do that to you. I have I have thoughts, but good luck. Good luck. Another long meeting for you. Take care. >> Appreciate. Uh Tess, do you have anything further for us? Thanks so much for

231the information you've given us tonight. >> Yeah, just thank you so much for listening. I appreciate your um your guidance. >> All right. And before we let it go, uh Lisa, are you good for us for tonight? Uh you have anything further to say? >> Um I think I'm good. I think I Oh, there was one item and we can talk again, but I did talk to the auditors and they're going up $1,000. So, it'll be 42 instead of 41,000. So, >> Oh, for for that line. So, we just time we get a spreadsheet. Hopefully, you get that in there. >> Yep. I just didn't want to put it in there without telling you guys first. >> Oh, I understand that's not a crazy amount. I I'm not surprised that they went up. >> Yep.

232>> All right. Well, thank you for that. >> Uh, okay. So, I have a couple items to do. I have to get that email out to board selectman and K about the meeting changes and then I promised you guys I would try to touch base with Roberta uh about a few things. Other than that, that's what I've got. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? >> I make a motion. Okay. Second that. >> Okay. Bill motions. Seconds. Huzzah. Let's go around. Liz, >> yes. >> Bill, >> yes. Heather, >> yes. >> Nick, >> yes. >> Louise, >> yes. >> And I myself have also a yes. Thank you all. Um, thanks for making yourselves available even though, you know, it's difficult. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. >> Uh, and I will see you next

233week and I'll report whatever I get and Lisa of course will, I'm sure, continue to email us and >> Yep. >> Thanks everybody. >> Okay. Stop recording. >> Stop the recording. Capers.